WRITTEN QUESTION P-2507/00 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Substantial petrol price variations.
Date: 2000-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Valle d'Aosta, derogation from EU law, fuel tax, motor fuel, price disparity, tax harmonisation

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/43

The focus of the political priority is protection of the urban environment, which is home to 80 % of EU
citizens. To that end, existing funding, particularly the considerable amounts under the Structural Funds,
must be put to better use.

In view of the above, will the Commission state which Structural Fund budget items Madrid, one of the
most polluted cities in the EU, has received, and say how it can call for the spirit of the statement made at
the aforementioned Oporto meeting to begin contributing, without delay, towards making Madrid a fitter
and more comfortable place for people to live in?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Protection of the environment is a key priority for the structural funds programmes and the Commission
recognises the importance of high quality environmental
infrastructure for regional socio-economic
development.

Support under the regional programmes cofinanced by the structural funds is targeted on the weakest
areas of the Union. The city of Madrid, which is relatively prosperous in European terms, has therefore
benefited less under the structural funds than the poorer regions of Spain eligible under Objective 1.

During the 1994-1999 programming period, a disadvantaged area in the centre of the city benefited from
the URBAN Community Initiative with an allocation of € 11,9 million. Environment
improvement
measures were supported under this programme. For the 2000-2006 period, certain areas are eligible
under Objective 2. Madrid also benefits from the Cohesion fund which applies on a national scale and
which has financed several environment related projects in the city with aid totalling € 146 million.

(2001/C 136 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2507/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 July 2000)

Subject: Substantial petrol price variations

In Valle d(cid:146)Aosta, a special-status region, the inhabitants are entitled to a bonus of ITL 1 294 per litre for
high-octane petrol and ITL 1 209 for (cid:145)green(cid:146) petrol, up to a maximum of 75 litres per person per month.

Given that (cid:129) even over a great many years (cid:129) I have not managed to elicit a proper answer from the
Italian authorities, can the Commission say:

1. why, for the reason outlined above, petrol in Valle d(cid:146)Aosta should cost less than ITL 1 000 a litre;

2. whether it can take steps to end this instance of unequal treatment among Italian citizens?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 September 2000)

The taxation of mineral oils in the Community is governed by the provisions of Council Directive 92/81/
EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils (1).
Article 8(4) of this Directive enables the Council to authorise Member States to introduce derogations that
allow exemptions or reductions in duty for specific policy considerations.

C 136 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

During the negotiations that lead up to the adoption of Council Directive 92/81/EEC, Member States
obtained exemptions or reductions under Article 8(4) as part of
the adoption process. Under this
procedure, the Italian authorities were authorised by the Council to introduce a derogation (cid:145)for consump-
tion in the regions of Val D(cid:146)Aosta and Gorizia(cid:146). The application of this derogation will have contributed to
the price differentials mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Council authorised this derogation on the basis that it would continue to apply automatically unless,
on the basis of a Commission proposal, the Council unanimously decides otherwise. Therefore, for the
derogation to be withdrawn as the Honourable Member suggests, the Italian delegation within the Council
would need to agree to its repeal.

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.

(2001/C 136 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2521/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Bridge tolls and investment

Is the Commission aware of the strong belief locally that there is an enormous negative impact on
investment caused by the existence of certain bridge tolls. For example, there seems to be evidence that the
tolls on the Tamar Bridge deter companies investing in the Saltash area, which is an Objective One region,
because of the estimated GBP 300 per person per year costs for crossing the bridge. Similarly investment
levels in south Gloucestershire on the London side of the Severn Bridge are extremely high, yet many parts
of the Forest of Dean closest to the Severn Bridge, which are immediately the other side of the bridge and
which would meet Objective 2 criteria, face an impossible barrier to investment because of tolls of over
GBP 1 000 per person per year.

Is the Commission prepared to commission a study to establish the validity of these concerns?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Article 7 of Directive 1999/62/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1999 on the charging
of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (1) lays down the conditions under which
Member States may levy tolls for heavy goods vehicles. If a national, regional or local authority decides to
introduce a toll, for heavy goods vehicles the toll should be compatible with the Directive, and for the
other vehicles the setting of the toll rate is a matter for these authorities under the principle of subsidiarity
provided the rate is neither excessive (i.e. related to the underlying costs) nor discriminatory.

(1) OJ L 187, 20.7.1999.

(2001/C 136 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2530/00

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: Fires in southern Europe

Will the Commission release emergency appropriations to cover the damage caused by the widespread
fires which have raged across southern Europe and Greece, in particular, in recent days, in view of the
need for exceptional funding to compensate those affected by the disaster and to restore the natural
environment?