WRITTEN QUESTION P-2220/99 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tax discussions.
Date: 1999-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, Ecofin, double taxation, operation of the Institutions, proposal (EU), savings, tax system

20.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/151

(2000/C 170 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2207/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: Demolition of the former Pacini Theatre by the Fucecchio municipal authorities (Florence)

In 1997 the council of the municipality of Fucecchio (Florence), adopted Decisions Nos 42 and 78 in
which it approved a bypass around the historic centre of Fucecchio which would entail the demolition of
the former Pacini Theatre, built in 1 700. The theatre would be replaced by a new, larger, reinforced-
concrete building and a 400-square-metre section of the public square would be sold to the real-estate
company (cid:145)Cabel(cid:146). The above decisions, which involve changes to the urban development plan, are contrary
to Law No 1089 of 1 June 1939 in which Article 1 of the general provisions on the protection of items of
artistic and historical interest stipulates that a public square is inalienable by virtue of Article 23, in that it
is property of which a public authority may not dispose. The resolutions which the Fucecchio authorities
intend to adopt will be extremely detrimental to the Fucecchio community and run counter to the general
provisions on the protection of the artistic and cultural heritage, at both national and European levels.

Would the Commission be willing to urge the relevant Italian authorities to ensure that the European
cultural heritage is preserved and protected according to the provisions of Article 128 of the Treaty, which
stipulates, inter alia, that Community action in the cultural domain should seek to promote the cultures of
the Member States whilst at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 1999)

The EC Treaty (cid:129) and in particular Article 151 thereof (formerly Article 128) (cid:129) gives the Community
competence in the area of culture. According to Article 151, Community action is aimed exclusively (cid:129) in
full compliance with the principle of subsidiarity (cid:129) at contributing to cooperation between Member States;
contributing to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and
regional diversity; and fostering cooperation with third countries and the competent
international
organisations in the sphere of culture.

Consequently, the Commission cannot intervene in a matter which, in this case, is solely the responsibility
of Italy.

(2000/C 170 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2220/99

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Tax discussions

1. What meetings have been held in the last month to discuss elements of what is known as the Monti
tax package, and what meetings are scheduled for the same purpose in the next two months?

Specifically, what tax matters have been discussed at the meetings held during the last month, and

2.
what matters are due to be discussed at upcoming meetings?

In the interests of transparency, will the Commission provide Parliament with summary reports of

3.
these meetings and with any documents on which discussions have been based?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1999)

1. and 2.
The following is a list of the meetings with Member States which have taken place since
1 October 1999. The tax package is due to be discussed at the European Council in Helsinki on 10 and

C 170 E/152

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

11 December 1999. Apart from that, there is no information at present on what, if any, further meetings
will take place in the next two months on the subject of the tax package.

The code of conduct group met on 14 and 15 October 1999 and on 27 October 1999 when a few
outstanding issues and a first draft of the group(cid:146)s final report were discussed. Revised drafts were prepared,
considered and further developed at meetings on 3 and 4 November 1999 and 12 November 1999 and
the report of the group was presented to the Ecofin Council meeting on 29 November 1999.

On the proposal for a directive on the taxation of savings income there was a Council working group
technical meeting on 6 October 1999 on certificate procedure and elimination of double taxation.

At the Ecofin Council on 8 October 1999 reports were presented on the promotion of the principles of
the proposed directive in the dependent and associated territories of Member States. At a Council working
group high level meeting on 19 October 1999 there was a general discussion on a possible redrafting of
the savings directive. There was a Council ad hoc meeting at political
level on 28 October 1999 on
outstanding issues of the tax package. The Ecofin Council on 8 November 1999 examined the tax package
as a whole. A meeting organised by the Presidency with market operators took place on 18 November
1999, there was a Council working group meeting on 22 November 1999, and the proposal was discussed
at the Ecofin Council on 29 November 1999.

On the proposal for a directive on interest and royalty payments a Council working group meeting took
place on 26 October 1999 on all
issues outstanding. A further Council working group meeting on
outstanding issues took place in the afternoon of 17 November 1999. The proposal was discussed along
with the other two elements of the tax package at the Ecofin Council on 29 November 1999.

3.
As all the meetings listed above are Council meetings, the official reports of these meetings and all
working documents discussed at the meetings are the responsibility of the Council. The Commission does
not, therefore, have the authority to supply these documents to the Parliament. However, the Commis-
sioner responsible for the internal market has undertaken to be available to the relevant parliamentary
committees to discuss and explain in person the position of the Commission on policy issues, and he
discussed the tax package with the Economic and monetary committee on 25 November 1999.

(2000/C 170 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2231/99

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Estimate of the black economy

Please give estimates or a range of estimates of the size of the (cid:145)black(cid:146) economy for each of the Member
States and briefly describe the methodological basis of calculation.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

The concept of the (cid:145)black(cid:146), hidden or underground economy is not well defined. The Commission is not
directly engaged in measuring it and has no estimates of its size.

A large number of transactions and activities are in fact not recorded by administrative processes or by
statistical enquiries for a wide range of reasons (including fraud, but also absence, exemptions, size
thresholds). These transactions or activities are not necessarily in any sense hidden.