WRITTEN QUESTION E-2982/00 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Jas Gawronski (PPE-DE), Gianfranco Fini (UEN), Umberto Bossi (TDI), Pier Casini (PPE-DE), Rocco Buttiglione (PPE-DE) and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Council. The fall in the value of the euro.
Date: 2000-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Central Bank, Japan, United States, euro, exchange rate, foreign exchange market, value of trade

C 113 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

In that context, the possibility to refer to some maximum value within a range of years proposed by the
Commission for each Member State is not precluded. Indeed, this approach was used when establishing
allocation keys in 1998 for various fish stocks in the North Sea.

At present, the Commission has not decided whether a proposal dealing with 2001 will be required.
Discussion has been initiated with the concerned Member States. It is possible that a further non-legislative
solution may be found.

(2001/C 113 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Access to information

Following the agreement concluded between the Commission and Parliament in July, will the Reasoned
Opinions sent by the Commission to Member States now be available either to Members of Parliament or
to the general public?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2000)

The Framework Agreement concluded by the Commission and Parliament in July governs relations
between the two institutions. Annex III to the Agreement is specifically concerned with the transmission
of confidential information from the Commission and its handling in the context of Parliament(cid:146)s powers of
scrutiny.

At the same time, the Annex expressly excludes the provision of information on infringement procedures,
in so far as they are not covered by a final Commission decision on the date when the request from a
parliamentary body is received.

to the general rules of Annex III which call,

As a result, the Commission can transmit Reasoned Opinions to Parliament only after taking a final
decision and pursuant
for
fundamental human rights,
including the right to a fair trial and the right to protection of privacy;
provisions governing judicial and disciplinary procedures; the protection of business secrecy and commer-
cial relations; and protection of the interests of the Union, particularly those relating to public safety,
international relations, monetary stability and financial interests.

in particular,

for respect

The notification of Reasoned Opinions to the general public is not covered by the Framework Agreement,
which is exclusively concerned with relations between Parliament and the Commission.

(2001/C 113 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2982/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Jas Gawronski (PPE-DE), Gianfranco Fini (UEN), Umberto Bossi (TDI),
Pier Casini (PPE-DE), Rocco Buttiglione (PPE-DE)
and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Council

(25 September 2000)

Subject: The fall in the value of the euro

The reports received over the last few weeks, and more particularly in the last few hours, concerning the
declining value of the euro in relation to the dollar and other currencies have given rise to serious concern
in the European Parliament.

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/225

In view of the often unduly optimistic statements made by individual Members of the Commission, the
Council and the European Central Bank (ECB), we call on the Council to issue an official response to the
problem explaining the economic, financial and monetary policy the European Union intends to adopt to
address the difficult situation of its currency and reverse its hitherto apparently inexorable decline.

Reply

(30 November 2000)

On 22 September 2000, the President of the Eurogroup issued the following statement:

As President of the Eurogroup, I have been informed by Wim Duisenberg, the President of the
European Central Bank, of the interventions to be implemented today by the monetary authorities of
the Euro area, the United States and Japan. This operation follows the position expressed by the
finance ministers of the Euro area in Versailles on 8 September and shared by the European Central
Bank and I fully approve it.

This statement was made in connection with the following statement made public on the same day by
the ECB:

On the initiative of the European Central Bank, the monetary authorities of the United States and
Japan joined with the European Central Bank in concerted intervention in exchange markets because
of their shared concern about the potential implications of recent movements in the euro exchange
rate for the world economy.

(2001/C 113 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2985/00

by Carlo Fatuzzo (PPE-DE) and Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

Subject: Obstacles to the free movement of persons

(20 September 2000)

Regulation 1247/92 (1) prevents citizens of the Member States from receiving non-contributory old-age or
disability pensions if they move away from the countries of which they are nationals.

This often constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to a person(cid:146)s taking advantage of the right, enshrined in
Article 18 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to reside freely within the territory of the
Member States.

Does the Commission intend to propose changes to Regulation 1247/92 to ensure that the provisions of
Article 18 are fully and effectively implemented in relation to citizens receiving the allowances and benefits
in question?

(1) OJ L 136, 19.5.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

At Community level, Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and its implementing Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 (1)
coordinate the different national social security schemes which, inter alia, enshrine the right to export
social security benefits throughout the European Union.

Council Regulation (EEC) No 1247/92 of 30 April 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71, to
which the Honourable Members refer,
introduced new rules which apply to special non-contributory
benefits intended either to provide supplementary, substitute or ancillary cover for the risks in question or
to ensure exclusive protection for the disabled (see Article 4(2a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71).