WRITTEN QUESTION E-1440/00 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The euro and people with impaired vision.
Date: 2000-05-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy - national policy, euro, facilities for people with disabilities

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/143

(2001/C 53 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1436/00

by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Combating discrimination against disabled people

(5 May 2000)

The Commission has recently submitted a package of measures, including three directives, pursuant to the
anti-discrimination provisions of Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. However, despite the fact that
Article 13 recognises disability as an area in which the EU must take action to combat discrimination, the
package does not contain specific measures for disabled people.

In view of this situation:

(cid:129) How does the Commission intend to ensure that disabled people are properly catered for by the

package of anti-discrimination measures?

(cid:129) Has it formulated a proposal of any kind regarding the amounts, in euro, that are to be earmarked for

these measures?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

The proposal for a Council Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment
and occupation (1) explicitly addresses discrimination linked to disability. The instrument as a whole and
the nature of the protection proposed by the Commission cover this type of discrimination. Besides, in
order to ensure that equality of treatment for disabled persons is effective, the proposal also provides for a
specific obligation concerning reasonable accommodation in this regard.

The proposal for a Council Decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimina-
tion (2) also explicitly addresses discrimination linked to disability for all classes of measures provided for in
the programme. However,
inadvisable to earmark funds for measures
designed to deal with specific classes of discrimination.

the Commission considers it

(1) COM(1999) 565 final.
(2) COM(1999) 567 final.

(2001/C 53 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1440/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The euro and people with impaired vision

(10 May 2000)

As of 1 January 2002, all European citizens will have to be fully conversant with the use of euro coins and
banknotes.

The Commission has taken the initiative in providing financial subsidies to organisations involved in
teaching people with impaired vision to handle euro banknotes and coins.

Whilst some aspects of
encountered obstacles in some Member States.

this issue are governed by the subsidiarity principle,

the Commission has

In view of the aforementioned facts, does the Commission intend to take action of any kind to oblige
Member States to devote more budgetary resources to this area?

C 53 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Answer to written question by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

Ever since the Treaty on European Union was ratified, representatives of people with impaired vision have
been closely associated with work to determine the technical specifications for euro coins and bank notes.
The Commission and the Central European Bank have been in regular contact with the European Blind
Union in order to assess training needs and, working with the Member States, to prepare or coordinate
action to meet these needs (training for instructors, preparation of training kits, etc.).

(2001/C 53 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1453/00

by Alexander Radwan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Tax on vessels entering Greek waters

(10 May 2000)

At the beginning of this year Greece introduced a special tax on vessels entering Greek territorial waters
(Greek State Law No 2743/1999 of 14 January 2000). This tax must be paid by all vessels more than
7 metres in length, regardless of the flag they fly. It is levied at a rate of GRD 2000 per metre of vessel
length and is valid for a stay of up to 30 days. Vessels which have a permanent mooring in a Greek
harbour are exempt from the tax, although this status is forfeited if the vessel remains outside Greek
waters for more than 30 days a year.

Does the Greek tax breach the principle of freedom of movement, since the owner of a vessel with a
permanent mooring in Greece may now only sail outside the country for a maximum of 30 days if he or
she wishes to avoid the tax?

Is it the case that special rules will remain in force until 2001 authorising Greece to levy such a tax on
vessels entering its waters?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written E-1062/00 by Mr von
Wogau (1).

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 150.

(2001/C 53 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1457/00

by Reinhold Messner (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Renewal of the licence granted to the Italian company Autostrade SpA

Following a previous question (E-2293/99) (1) on the renewal of the licence granted to the Italian company
Autostrade SpA, which dealt with the issue of the operational risk taken on by the licence holder, the
Commission stated that the activities of the independent committee responsible for the procedures for the
award of the public works contracts in connection with the licence was (cid:145)not likely to alter the element of
risk involved in the management of the construction, since it does not affect the financial plan of the
licence and is merely an additional guarantee for opening up markets to competition(cid:146). The committee,
which was set up at the Commission(cid:146)s request in order to make it possible to renew the licence without
issuing a public invitation to tender, is not in reality independent, since two of its members were chosen
by ANAS (national state-owned road company) and one by the company Autostrade SpA.