WRITTEN QUESTION E-2511/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Car insurance.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, approximation of laws, freedom to provide services, insurance, motor car, third-party insurance, vehicle registration

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/209

The goal of the Commission(cid:146)s infringement proceedings is to ensure that the services mentioned above
continue to be provided by private operators in open competition with the incumbent. The services at
issue in the proceedings are tailored to the specific needs of certain business customers or the public
administration. The proceedings do not concern or negatively impact on the universal service for
individual users in Italy.

(1) Directive 97/67/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997, on common rules for the
development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service
(OJ L 15, 21.1.1998) at recital 21: (cid:145)whereas new services (services quite distinct from conventional services) and
document exchange do not form part of the universal service and consequently there is no justification for their
being reserved to the universal service provider.(cid:146)

(2001/C 81 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2511/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Car insurance

in the 25 June 2000 edition of

A report
(cid:145)The Sunday Telegraph(cid:146) claimed that a new (cid:145)nationality(cid:146)
requirement had been introduced for cars, whereby a UK citizen buying a car at a significantly lower
price in another Member State could no longer rely on a cover note on his existing domestic insurance
policy but must take out a temporary insurance policy in the country of purchase. Can the Commission
confirm the truth of that report? If so, how is that compatible with the requirements of the single market?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2000)

Under Community legislation on motor vehicle insurance, the place of registration of a motor vehicle is
the determining factor in deciding in which Member State the risk is located. Council Directive 72/166/
EEC of 24 April 1972 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against
civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and to the enforcement of the obligation to insure
against such liability (1) stipulates that the Member State in which the vehicle is registered must ensure that
the civil liability in respect of its use is compulsorily insured. Such compulsory insurance must, on the
basis of a single premium, guarantee the cover required in the territory of the other Member States
according to the legislation in force there or the cover required by the legislation of the Member State in
which the vehicle is registered when that cover is higher (Third Council Directive 90/232/EEC of 14 May
1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in
respect of the use of motor vehicles (2)). The cover may be provided by any authorised insurer in the
Community, including one that is not established in the Member State in which the vehicle is registered
but that carries on the business of insurance by way of the freedom to provide services. Community
legislation, and in particular Council Directive 92/49/EEC of 18 June 1992 on the coordination of laws,
regulations and administrative provisions relating to direct
insurance other than life assurance and
amending Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (third non-life insurance Directive) (3), lays down the
conditions necessary to ensure that insurers not established in a Member State may,
if they so wish,
provide compulsory civil-liability motor vehicle insurance by way of the freedom to provide services.

These observations are also valid for vehicles with a temporary registration plate that are intended for
importation into a Member State other than that in which they were purchased.

In the case referred to by the Honourable Member, it is the responsibility of the Member State in which
the vehicle is registered to ensure that the requirement to take out civil-liability motor vehicle insurance is
met. Such insurance must be provided by an insurance contract taken out with an insurance company
authorised to do business in that Member State,
including an insurer authorised to do business from
another Member State by way of the freedom to provide services.

C 81 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Accordingly, a UK insurer may, if he so wishes, provide cover for vehicles purchased in another Member
State by UK citizens and registered there in so far as it is authorised to do business by way of the freedom
to provide services.

(1) OJ L 103, 2.5.1972.
(2) OJ L 129, 19.5.1990.
(3) OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.

(2001/C 81 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2542/00

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: Unnecessary administrative formalities affecting European firms

About one year ago, on 29 April 1999, the Commission submitted to the Council of Ministers an action
plan designed to abolish unnecessary administrative formalities which restrict the competitiveness of
European firms.

Will the Commission say which Member States have taken a stance on this initiative and what has been
the response of those EU countries which are geographically remote and do not have land borders with
the other Member States, and whose firms face particular difficulties in gaining access to major markets, as
well as higher transport costs? In particular, would it say what problems have been experienced by Greece
as a geographically remote country, which also faces difficulties because of its extensive network of
islands?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

in response to the European Council conclusions at Cardiff
The Industry Council of 29 April 1999,
relating to the recommendations of the BEST Task Force, unanimously endorsed the action plan to
promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness,
in accordance with the respective competences of the
Member States and the Commission. The Member States have continued subsequently to express strong
political support for the objectives of BEST. Greece has actively supported the action plan along with the
other Member States.

The Commission is not in a position to offer more information about particular problems raised by the
representatives of the Greek government or on other technical aspects of the negotiations for the adoption
of the BEST action plan in the Industry Council of 29 April 1999, as those negotiations were conducted in
the Industry Council preparatory group meetings. The Commission would therefore invite the Honourable
Member to address his questions to the Council for supplementary information.

(2001/C 81 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2544/00

by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission

(28 July 2000)

Subject: Budget line B3-1003 (cid:129) preparatory measures for the promotion of linguistic diversity in the

information society

When does the Commission expect to issue a call for proposals for 2000 under the budget line B3-1003
(cid:129) preparatory measures for the promotion of linguistic diversity in the information society (cid:129) in order to
spend the € 2 million commitments which are on that budget line for 2000?