WRITTEN QUESTION P-2041/00 by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. High-speed rail link to Málaga.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Spain, high-speed transport

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/137

(2001/C 89 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2039/00

by Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Amendment of Directive 77/388/EEC in respect of VAT on certain electronically delivered services

In the Commission(cid:146)s estimation, how high is the turnover on paid services delivered by an entrepreneur
located in a third country to a commercial customer in the EU? How high is the turnover on paid services
delivered by an entrepreneur located in a third country to a private individual in the EU?

Is it likely that the decision that business players from non-EU countries engaged in e-commerce must
register in only one Member State, will
lead to an inflow of tax revenue in the EU Member States
concerned that it is incommensurate with their economic activity?

Can it be ruled out that
discrimination against businesses with fiscal residence?

through the above arrangements,

the intended Directive will

lead to tax

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

With respect to its impact on VAT revenues, it is necessary to stress that electronic commerce is still at a
very early stage and the tax revenues involved are not really significant today, although this is likely to
change in the near future. Business to business transactions, which represent by far the greatest portion of
electronic commerce, will be accounted for under the reverse charge mechanism. Business to consumer
transactions, where the level of activity is as yet low, will be dealt with by a system of vendor registration.

Accordingly, the Commission(cid:146)s proposal (1) in respect of VAT on electronic commerce is not driven by
revenue considerations. The primary focus of the proposal is to remove the existing inequality in tax
treatment which works to the disadvantage of Community business. The aim is to ensure that competition
between Community operators and third country operators is fair and equitable, and that a clear and
certain taxation framework is in place to accommodate future growth.

The Commission has not therefore sought to quantify the historical level of taxable activity. All of the data
from reliable external sources, notably the Organisation for economic cooperation and development
(OECD), confirms that the categories of on-line electronically delivered services which the Commission(cid:146)s
proposal covers are only now beginning to take off to any significant degree.

The Commission believes that a single place of registration for third country operators is the only
sustainable option, particularly in the context of World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations. This will
of course highlight the disparity in existing VAT rates across the Community and in the Commission(cid:146)s
view only serves to highlight the need for greater alignment of rates.

(1) OJ C 30, 5.2.1999.

(2001/C 89 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2041/00

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: High-speed rail link to MÆlaga

Is the Commission aware of the project for the construction of a high-speed rail link between C(cid:243)rdoba and
MÆlaga?

Will the EU finance this project in whole or in part?

If EU financing is forthcoming, to which of the Community funds will it be charged and what will be the
sums involved?

C 89 E/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

The high-speed train (HST) Cordoba-Malaga link is part of the Spanish HST-Trans-European network (TEN)
under the Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 23 July 1996 (1). Therefore,
studies and works concerning this infrastructure project are eligible for Community funding, in particular
for the Cohesion fund and the TEN-budget line B5-700.

The Spanish authorities have requested for the 2000 TEN-budget exercise the financing of 50 % of the
technical studies on the HST-Cordoba-Malaga for a total studies cost of € 12 million. Following the
Commission(cid:146)s proposal, during the last financial committee meeting on 24 May 2000, it was decided to
support with € 6 million the technical studies of the project.

The HST Cordoba-Malaga is included in the regional development plan for Spanish regions under
objective 1 and is one of the most emblematic projects to be developed within the programming period
2000-2006 in the region of Andalusia. The project is also scheduled in the Spanish infrastructure plan for
the period 2000-2007. Nevertheless, as the programming documents have not been concluded yet, it is
not possible to determine to which of the different Community structural funds the project will be
presented by the Spanish authorities.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2001/C 89 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2048/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: Pollution of the River Arachthos and the Amvrakikos Gulf

In March 2000 the left part of the Imaret irrigation dam in Arta which is 100 metres long collapsed and
the water carried away vast quantities of rubbish which found their way into the Amvrakikos Gulf. There
are fears that the harmful environmental consequences of this incident for the Amvrakikos Gulf will
appear in the summer when it is thought that the organic content of the rubbish will create eutrophication
and asphyxiation as the temperature rises and the flow of fresh water into the Gulf ceases. According to
allegations made by local bodies and inhabitants, the collapse of the dam was caused both by the extensive
and illegal removal of sand and gravel both above and below the dam (cid:129) some 80 000 cubic metres were
removed (cid:129) and the fact that the DEI (Greek Electricity Board) channelled the water at a higher speed at the
main dam on the Arachthos.

Given that the mouth of the River Arachthos forms part of a special protection area (Amvrakikos Gulf)
according to the Commission(cid:146)s answer of 18 March 1998 to my Question E-0231/98, what representa-
tions does the Commission intend to make to the relevant Greek authorities:

1. To take measures to repair the damage to the Imaret dam;

2. To put an end to the flow of rubbish and the dumping of solid waste in the Amvrakikos Gulf;

3. To recommend a special operation to remove the sediment from the Amvrakikos Gulf and to clean up

the bed of the River Arachthos and the Amvrakikos Gulf; and

4. To put an end to the illegal removal of sand and gravel?