WRITTEN QUESTION E-1112/00 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Reimbursement of non-business expenditure under the 1994 UK VAT Act.
Date: 2000-04-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, VAT, infringement of EU law, public institution

C 26 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

notified aid package is still pending. It is up to the United Kingdom authorities to inform the Commission
whether the changed situation as regards the future ownership of Rover has an impact on the notified aid
package. After having received this information from the United Kingdom, the Commission will act
accordingly.

The provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No1475/95 of 28 June 1995 on the application of
2.
Article 85 (3) of the Treaty to certain categories of motor vehicle distribution and servicing agreements (1)
(the block exemption regulation) with regard to dealers(cid:146) rights and obligations essentially apply to dealers(cid:146)
sales targets, dealers(cid:146) stock requirements, cross-selling between dealers within the network, and the
duration and termination of the dealer(cid:146)s agreement. The obligation of the carmaker to supply his dealers
with cars is a matter of contractual law which would not fall within the scope of the block exemption.

(1) OJ L 145, 29.6.1995.

(2001/C 26 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1112/00

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: Reimbursement of non-business expenditure under the 1994 UK VAT Act

Could the Commission confirm that the arrangements under the 1994 UK VAT Act for reimbursing bodies
such as local authorities for their non-business expenditure do not contravene Commission rules?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2000)

The reimbursement of VAT paid on the expenditure of a body governed by public law which is not a
taxable person under the terms of Article 4(5) of the sixth Council Directive of 17 May 1977 on the
harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes (cid:129) Common system of value
added tax: uniform basis of assessment (77/388/EEC) (1) is not incompatible with the said Directive.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.

(2001/C 26 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1120/00

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 April 2000)

Subject: Imprisonment of Arkin Birdal and the judgment against Necmettin Erkaban in Turkey

On Tuesday 28 March 200 the Public Prosecutor in Ankara refused to suspend the prison sentence against
Arkin Birdal, a renowned and courageous defender of civil rights in Turkey accused of making (cid:145)subversive
speeches(cid:146). His lawyers had requested a six months(cid:146) suspension of the sentence because he needs intensive
medical treatment for injuries sustained as a result of an attempt made on his life.

At the beginning of March the former Prime Minister Necmettin Erkaban was sentenced to a year(cid:146)s
imprisonment for similar offences, because of a speech he made in 1994.

1.
Does the Commission not consider that these blatant violations of freedom of expression and human
rights are at odds with the commitments entered into by the Turkish Government with a view to EU
membership and the basic conditions for the accession of new States, such as respect for the founding
principles of the Union, sanctioned in Article 6(1) of the TEU, and the political criteria laid down by the
Copenhagen European Council in June 1993?