WRITTEN QUESTION P-2476/00 by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Finnish and Swedish derogations ‐ excise rates on alcohol.
Date: 2000-07-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Finland, Sweden, alcohol, derogation from EU law, excise duty

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/163

It may be noted in any case that the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for amending Regulation (EEC) No 404/
2.
93 on the common organisation of the market in bananas is based on Article 37 of the Treaty, which
means the Council cannot take a decision until the European Parliament has delivered its Opinion.

3.
The Council reiterates its concern that the banana dispute should be settled as soon as possible in
accordance with WTO rules and having regard for the interests of Community producers and the Union(cid:146)s
commitments towards the ACP States, especially the weakest among them.

(2001/C 103 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2472/00

by Juan Izquierdo Collado (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Madrid-Levante highspeed train link

(12 July 2000)

Is the Commission aware of the proposed route ((cid:145)A modificado(cid:146) (cid:129) A modified) by the Spanish Minister of
Works, Mr `lvarez Cascos, for the announced Madrid-Levante highspeed rail link?

Is the Commission aware of the sheer environmental impact of the proposed route, which cuts through
specially protected bird sanctuaries and areas of nature of ecological significance?

Does the Commission agree with the European Parliament(cid:146)s position as stated in its resolution on the
Annual Report on the 1998 Cohesion Funds (A5-0140/2000) adopted in June 2000, in which it (cid:145)urges the
Commission to ensure that, if various alternatives exist for one and the same project, preference is given to
those which have least impact on the environment(cid:146)?

Under these conditions, could a project which ignores Parliament(cid:146)s recommendations obtain Community
funding?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

At this stage the Commission does not have any detailed information on the various alternative solutions
proposed by the Spanish authorities for the route of the future high-speed train link between Madrid and
Levante, which is the sole responsibility of the Member State. In any event, the route will have to undergo
an environmental impact assessment in accordance with Community legislation.

If this project is submitted for Cohesion Fund part-financing, the Commission will carefully examine the
documentation submitted with the aid application to ensure that it complies fully with Community
environmental legislation.

(2001/C 103 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2476/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 July 2000)

Subject: Finnish and Swedish derogations (cid:129) excise rates on alcohol

The Commission(cid:146)s report on the Nordic derogations concludes with the words (cid:129) (cid:145)the Commission would
urge each of the Member States concerned to take the necessary steps in order to prepare for a smooth
transition to the application of the general rules in force, at the latest by the date of expiry of their
derogation (cid:133)(cid:146). The (cid:145)necessary steps(cid:146) are obviously the reduction of the high excise rates, although,

C 103 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

the report never states this in black and white. The sole justification for the
interestingly enough,
continued derogations is the enormous difference in rates across borders and, more importantly, the need
for the high rates to be reduced in conjunction with the phased removal of import restrictions.

Does the Commission find that the current rate differentials are unsustainable within an internal market? If
so, what measures is it going to take to remedy the unsustainability? Will it propose, in its report on the
operation of the minimum rates (under Directive 92/84/EEC) (1), that the high rates should be reduced?

Article 93 of the EC Treaty relates to the harmonisation of indirect taxation to the extent necessary for the
establishment and functioning of the internal market. Is not this Article relevant for the consideration of
the Finnish and Swedish derogations?

The Commission(cid:146)s report on the extension and phasing-out of the derogations for the Nordic countries
concludes that the Nordic countries should make the adjustments necessary to allow the intra-EU personal
import restrictions to be lifted. Am I right in assuming that the adjustments required are the reduction of
excise rates?

If the Nordic countries do not make the necessary adjustments, can the Commission guarantee that the
derogations will expire on 31 December 2003?

Does it accept that, if the high excise rates in the Nordic countries are not gradually reduced as the import
restrictions are phased out, the distortion of the internal market will increase? If so, is a measure that
increases distortions actually justified? Does it help towards the attainment of the objective set out in
Article 93 of the EC Treaty?

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

As the Commission has indicated in the report mentioned by the Honourable Member, the derogations
were granted in order to enable the Member States concerned to adapt their policy gradually to the full
requirement of the internal market. It is up to these Member States to determine the nature of any
measures to be taken in parallel with the dismantling of the restrictions for travellers. In any case, the
Commission does not intend to propose any further extension of the derogations beyond the end of 2003,
even if it would appear that these Member States would have omitted to take the necessary measures to
adapt.

The question of the level of the excise duty rates applied by the Member States will be treated in its
broader context in a report that the Commission will submit at the beginning of 2001. The report will
take into account the proper functioning of the internal market, competition between the different
categories of alcoholic drinks, the real value of the rates of duty and the wider objectives of the
EC Treaty. The Commission does not want to prejudge the conclusions of this report.

(2001/C 103 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2485/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Council

(24 July 2000)

Subject: Relations between the Union and Latin America under the French Presidency

In his speech to Parliament outlining Council activities in the second half of 2000, the French President,
Jacques Chirac, said that the Union should strengthen its role on the international stage.

How does the Council propose to handle the Union(cid:146)s external relations with Latin America?