WRITTEN QUESTION P-1544/00 by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Council. Economic and monetary policies.
Date: 2000-05-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, economic policy, single monetary policy

C 72 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

(2001/C 72 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1544/00

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Council

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Economic and monetary policies

The continuing decline of the euro against the dollar is causing serious anxiety for Europeans in a great
many walks of life. People in various quarters (cid:129) including political, economic, social, and financial circles
(cid:129) are calling for detailed explanations of the EU(cid:146)s economic and monetary strategy, but the Commission is
churning out a spate of reassuring messages and the Council is ignoring the problem altogether. The ECB
just keeps raising the rates time after time, clearly demonstrating that it has no economic and monetary
strategy, since it is resorting to standard technical shifts divorced from a broad economic perspective.
Although the rate increases reduce the risk of inflation, they are undoubtedly discouraging firms from
using the euro for their corporate investment. This money is absolutely essential to help speed up
economic modernisation and solve the problem of mass unemployment in Europe, which certainly cannot
be termed a cyclical phenomenon, but rather results from the numerous forms of structural inflexibility
and the failure of the Member States to harmonise their economic, financial, fiscal, and social policies. The
philosophy underlying these policies to date has been one of scepticism, protectionism, short-sightedness,
and ideological archaism, preventing calm debate aimed at achieving competitiveness on the world market.

Can the Council inform:

(cid:129) What are the main lines of

the economic and monetary strategy that

the Council

intends to

implement?

(cid:129) Which European political authority determines EU economic and monetary policy, without encroach-

ing on the technical and operational independence of the ECB?

(cid:129) What measures will be taken in the EU and the Member States to modernise and develop the

European economy?

(cid:129) How will Europe(cid:146)s huge unemployment problem be resolved without undermining or departing from

the rules governing migration and residence of non-Community nationals?

(cid:129) What role does the Council think the applicant countries should play in bringing about enlargement
under, it is to be hoped, the most favourable conditions and as quickly as possible in an EU offering a
propitious economic climate and a sense of security and stability as it seeks to improve the quality of
life for European citizens?

(cid:129) What proposals will the Council make to the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, China, and all
world economic powers with a view to opening negotiations aimed at stabilising the financial and
money markets and shielding citizens, investors, and savers from the dangers of possibly fatal crashes
that could even jeopardise global civil society?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

In the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Community for 1999/
2000, adopted by the Council on 12 July 1999 (1), the Council underlined that strong, sustainable growth
and employment constitute the main priority and that growth and stability-oriented macroeconomic
policies and comprehensive and co-ordinated economic reforms are the main means.

Furthermore, although the Council
itself has not taken a position on the recent developments of the
external value of the euro, it may be pointed out that the Euro 11 group, on 8 May, issued the following
statement:

The Euro 11 Ministers and Commissioner, and the President of the ECB share the view that growth is
very robust in the euro area; an increasing number of jobs is being created. The ECB is committed to
ensure that this growth will remain non-inflationary. Ministers are determined to speed up ongoing
fiscal consolidation and structural reforms towards a knowledge-based, full-employment economy

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/73

according to the orientations set by the special European Council
growth potential of our economies.

in Lisbon, thus increasing the

In this context, we share a common concern about the present level of the euro which does not reflect
the strong economic fundamentals of the euro area.

(1) OJ L 217, 17.08.1999, p. 34.

(2001/C 72 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1545/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Amendments to the Netherlands Exceptional Medical Expenses Act and freedom of movement of

persons in the EU

The answer to Written Question P-0706/00 (1) does not indicate clearly whether the amendment to the
Netherlands Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ) is a violation of the free movement of persons
within the Union. In the Netherlands everyone is covered by the provisions of the AWBZ. However, with
effect from 1 January 29000 Netherlands nationals living in other EU Member States are no longer
covered by the provisions of the AWBZ.

Does the decision by the Netherlands government to exclude Netherlands nationals resident overseas from
the provisions of the AWBZ, with effect from 1 January, violate the basic European principle of the free
movement of persons within the EU? If so, what action will the Commission take to ensured that the
AWBZ is brought back in line with the basic European principle of the free movement of persons within
the EU? If not, what are the Commission(cid:146)s (legal) arguments for stating that the Netherlands AWBZ is fully
in accord with the basic European principle of the free movement of persons within the EU?

(1) OJ C 303 E, 24.10.2000, p. 207.

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2000)

The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that the right of residence in another
Member State of Netherlands nationals who reside or wish to reside there without working (pensioners,
students or other non-active persons), which, pursuant to Council Directive 90/364/EEC of 28 June 1990
on the right of residence (1), Council Directive 90/365/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the right of residence for
employees and self-employed persons who have ceased their occupational activity (1) and Council Directive
93/96/EEC of 29 October 1993 on the right of residence for students (2), is contingent on their having
health insurance covering all the risks in the Member State,
is not called into question because the
abolition planned by the Netherlands legislation concerns exceptional medical expenses, which are not
covered in several Member States. Furthermore, as these persons are exempt from the payment of
contributions for exceptional medical expenses, they may, if they so desire, take out additional insurance
(of a private or other kind) in the Member State in order to cover these exceptional medical expenses, by
paying as insurance premiums the contributions that were previously paid to the Netherlands social
It follows that the amendment to the Netherlands legislation in question does not
security scheme.
constitute a violation of the freedom of movement of non-active Netherlands nationals.

(1) OJ L 180, 13.7.1990.
(2) OJ L 317, 18.12.1993.