WRITTEN QUESTION E-1566/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Tax concessions for diesel fuel.
Date: 2000-05-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air quality, diesel fuel, tax incentive, tax system

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/55

Does the Council feel that the term (cid:145)torture state(cid:146) used by Mr Sklan is applicable to Turkey? If not,
2.
does the Council belief that a member of a centre, cofinanced by the Union, for victims of torture and
(military) violence is wrong to apply the term (cid:145)torture state(cid:146) to Turkey? How then does the Council explain
the statement by Mr Sklan that: (cid:145)By far the largest group of patients of the Medical Foundation for the Care
of Victims of Torture are from Turkish Kurdistan(cid:146)?

Does the Council endorse Mr Sklan(cid:146)s view that

3.
in the
enforcement of so-called law and order(cid:146) in Turkey(cid:146)? If not, why not, and how can the Council(cid:146)s position
be reconciled with the fact that, as Mr Sklan says:
(cid:145)By far the largest group of patients of the Medical
Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture are from Turkish Kurdistan(cid:146)?

(cid:145)Torture is endemic, routine,

inherent

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 162.

Reply

(10 October 2000)

The Council confirms what it said in its answer to written question E-0028/00 about its attitude to
statements by individuals.

As to the substance of the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, the Council remains concerned about the
human rights situation in Turkey, including the practice of torture. There are several serious reports about
torture and ill-treatment in Turkey, not only from the south-eastern part but also from other parts of the
country. In particular, detentions by the security forces have given rise to particular concern since the
detention period may be increased to 10 days in several of the south-eastern provinces with the risk that
during such extended incommunicado detention periods, often with the right of access to a lawyer being
denied, torture and ill-treatment take place.

The existence of torture has been recognised by the Turkish Government. The Turkish authorities have
taken some measures and announced plans for further action in order to put an end to the practice of
torture in Turkey. The Council will continue to monitor the situation and to encourage Turkey to take all
necessary measures to ensure that human rights are fully respected.

(2001/C 81 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1566/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(24 May 2000)

Subject: Tax concessions for diesel fuel

More than half the cars sold in the Belgian federation last year use diesel. This makes Belgian the second
most diesel-mad country (after Austria). There are scarcely any diesel cars in the Scandinavian countries,
the UK and the US.

Diesel emissions are not only the principal source of nitrogen oxide which is one of the key factors in
global environmental problems such as ozone pollution and acid rain. What is more harmful are emissions
of soot and particulates, or in scientific jargon PM10 (particles smaller than 10 micrometers), Soot particles
carry dangerous substances such as heavy metals and carcinogenic polycyclical aromatic hydrocarbons.

The success of diesel in the Belgian federation is due to the difference in prices. Thanks to artificially low
levels of duty, diesel is ca. BEF 10 cheaper than petrol, although it costs more to refine diesel than petrol.
The system of tax concessions for diesel means that there is little hope for cleaner technologies (such as
the lean mix petrol engine).

C 81 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Does the Council acknowledge that diesel is the main source of nitrogen oxide? If not, what are the

1.
Council(cid:146)s scientific arguments for not branding diesel as the main source of nitrogen oxide?

2.
Does the Council acknowledge that diesel is one of the key causes of high emissions of soot (PM10)?
If not, what are the Council(cid:146)s scientific arguments for not branding diesel as the main source of high PM10
concentrations?

Does the Council consider that the tax concessions for diesel fuel

3.
in the Belgian federation (see
above) are in line with the search for cleaner technologies, given that the tax system does not in any way
encourage the sale of clean technology cars in the Belgian federation? If so, what are the Council(cid:146)s grounds
for advocating tax concessions for diesel, given that the tax system does not in any way encourage the sale
of clean technology cars in the Belgian federation? If not, will the Council take action to end the tax
concessions for diesel?

Reply

(28 September 2000)

1.
The Council is aware of the problem caused by nitrogen oxide emissions and particulates. Under the
co-decision procedure, the Council and the European Parliament adopted Directive 98/69/EC of 13 October
1998 relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles (1), which
represents a further significant step towards reducing these emissions.

As for further measures to be taken in the future, the Commission is asked in that Directive to submit
further proposals for legislation to come into force after 2005 which consider, inter alia:

(cid:129) The contribution of possible measures, including those relating to fuels and vehicles, to the attainment
of longer term Community objectives on air quality, taking into account technological developments
and the results of new air pollution-related research including effects of particulate matter on human
health,

(cid:129) The potential and feasibility of local measures to reduce vehicle emissions;

in this context the
contribution of
transport and other policy measures such as traffic management, urban public
transport, enhanced inspection and maintenance and vehicle scrappage schemes should be evaluated,

(cid:129) The particular situation of captive fleets and the potential for emission reductions related to the use by

such fleets of fuels with very stringent environmental specifications.

The system of tax concessions for diesel fuel referred to by the Honourable Member is based on
2.
Council Directive 92/82/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the approximation of the rates of excise duties on
mineral oils. The Council cannot consider making any amendment to that Directive unless it has a
proposal from the Commission as a basis. The Council has not received any such proposal.

(1) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998.

(2001/C 81 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1573/00

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Equivalents of certain categories of driver(cid:146)s licences

(19 May 2000)

In its decision on equivalents between certain categories of driver(cid:146)s licences the Commission gave a
comprehensive review of driver(cid:146)s licences commonly encountered. Unfortunately, for Germany it omitted
to include licences issued by the Allied occupying powers, by the Third Reich and the Weimar Republic.
What are the equivalents of these licences?