WRITTEN QUESTION P-2247/00 by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Council. Opus Dei and European officials' right to exercise discretion.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, religious sect

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/95

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Since the adoption of Directive 97/54/EC (1), which increased the maximum design speed of wheeled
agricultural or forestry tractors from 30 to 40 kilometres per hour (km/h), the Commission has been
examining the circumstances and the types of tractors to which higher maximum speeds could apply.

Although under certain circumstances a road speed higher than 40 km/h could increase the productivity of
these vehicles, which are primarily designed for working in the fields or forests, account needs to be taken
of safety components such as braking devices and lights, in addition to environmental protection.

It should also be borne in mind that increasing the speed of tractors may have other repercussions. The
approval of faster tractors could lead to competition with conventional hauliers, which are subject to
stricter rules governing driving licences and higher rates of taxation.

framework Directive 74/150/EEC (2) on
Increasing the maximum speed presupposes the revision of
agricultural or forestry tractors, firstly to extend the scope of this Directive to other types of tractors and
their towed or driven trailers, machines and tools and secondly, to take account of all safety and
environmental components.

This work is now nearing its conclusion with a rewritten draft framework Directive to be sent to the
Parliament and the Council at the beginning of 2001. The issue of increasing road speed is currently under
consideration and it is too early to take a final position. However, it should be stressed that it is sometimes
difficult to harmonise Member States(cid:146) policies on issues relating to the use of agricultural vehicles on the
road and that at present there is no consensus on the subject.

(1) OJ L 277, 10.10.1997.
(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974.

(2001/C 103 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2247/00

by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Council

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Opus Dei and European officials(cid:146) right to exercise discretion

On 19 June the secretariat of the Council of Ministers refused to allow the holding of a meeting on its
premises organised by an association of officials, the Amicale de la pensØe critique, on the question (cid:145)Do
sects in general, and Opus Dei in particular, represent a threat to a democratic and pluralist Europe(cid:146)? on
the grounds that it was incompatible with European officials(cid:146) duty of discretion.

As, hitherto, European officials(cid:146) duty to exercise discretion has been applied in relation to the protection of
the interests of Member States of the Union, could the Council clarify which country(cid:146)s or countries(cid:146)
interests would have been adversely affected by holding the meeting in question?

Does the Council have a policy with regard to sects in Europe? If so, what is it?

Does the Council have a list of the organisations that are regarded as sects in the various Member States?

Does the Council believe that one or more countries regard Opus Dei as a sect?

What is the Council(cid:146)s policy with regard to officials who are members of sects?

Is the Council taking any action to prevent sect members organising inside the European institutions?

Who took the decision to prohibit the holding of the meeting in question?

C 103 E/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Reply

(7 November 2000)

The first four questions raised by the Honourable Member have never been brought up before the Council.

The last three questions are obviously matters for the internal organisation of the General Secretariat.

(2001/C 103 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2250/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 June 2000)

Subject: Tax rates

What are the (a) present and (b) mooted preferential tax rates set for the:

(cid:129) Commission officials,

(cid:129) ECJ staff,

(cid:129) Commissioners,

(cid:129) MEPs,

(cid:129) Delegates to the Committee of the Regions?

In what circumstances can these rates, rather than the national ones, be claimed? What salary bands are
covered? What sums are involved, both individually and taken as a whole? What is the Commission(cid:146)s
opinion of this practice?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

Under the provisions of Article 13 of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities (1), and Council Regulation
(EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 260/68 of 29 February 1968 laying down the conditions and procedure for
applying the tax for the benefit of the Communities (2), officials and other servants of the Communities
employed under the staff regulations are liable to Community tax on salaries, wages and emoluments paid
by the Communities. They are exempt from national taxes on these amounts. The Community tax on
salaries, wages and emoluments is deducted at source and the proceeds are paid into the Community
budget. There are 14 tax rates applied to consecutive salary bands and they are adjusted in line with the
annual adaptation of salaries.

The tax rates since 1 July 1999 have been:

(cid:129) 8 % for the portion of income between 85,18 and 1 503,50 euros,

(cid:129) 10 % for the portion of income between 1 503,51 and 2 070,88 euros,

(cid:129) 13 % for the portion of income between 2 070,89 and 2 373,32 euros,

(cid:129) 15 % for the portion of income between 2 373,33 and 2 694,93 euros,

(cid:129) 18 % for the portion of income between 2 694,94 and 2 997,38 euros,

(cid:129) 20 % for the portion of income between 2 997,39 and 3 290,59 euros,

(cid:129) 23 % for the portion of income between 3 290,60 and 3 593,16 euros,

(cid:129) 25 % for the portion of income between 3 593,17 and 3 886,37 euros,