WRITTEN QUESTION E-3255/00 by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Revision of the postal directive ‐ creation of a compensation fund.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, competition policy, postal service, universal service

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/213

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the reports mentioned. Whether use of biological agents to eradicate
is a
plants used for producing prohibited drugs contravenes the precautionary principle or is illegal
complex question which cannot be answered in general. Particular uses need to be examined on a case by
case basis.

(2001/C 136 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3253/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: European identity card

Many of the EU(cid:146)s citizens believe the Union is a good and practical idea, especially when one speaks of
companies or consumer products. However, matters change when one speaks of people and the movement
of citizens.

It may happen, for instance, that a Union citizen is informed, in a Member State other than his country of
origin, that his passport is not considered valid documentation should he apply for provisional motor
vehicle registration, or that there are obstacles to his acquiring a residence permit or work permit. For
such reasons, the vast majority of EU citizens would like to see the introduction of a European identity
card, which would make their lives easier and avoid them the kinds of inconvenience mentioned.

Can the Commission state whether any plans currently exist to introduce a European identity card and
specify what guarantees it can offer the Union(cid:146)s citizens that this aspiration can one day become a reality?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2000)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the current provisions of the EC Treaty do
not confer upon it a competence to create a (cid:145)European identity card(cid:146).

The citizenship of the Union established by Article 17 (ex-Article 8) EC Treaty does not replace national
citizenship. Member States issue identity cards to their nationals under national law (see declaration 2
annexed to the final act of the Treaty on European union). It should be noted that there are certain
Member States which do not have any such provisions.

However, action to harmonise the lay-out of identity cards in order to facilitate the free movement of
people in accordance with Article 18 (2) (ex-Article 8a) EC Treaty, and to eliminate sources of confusion is
considered an appropriate step, which the Commission is seriously considering.

(2001/C 136 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3255/00

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Revision of the postal directive (cid:129) creation of a compensation fund

With a view to achieving a significant reduction in the reserved area of services, in its proposal of 30 May
2000 (cid:129) COM(2000) 319 final (cid:129) the European Commission seems to be relying on the compensation
fund to maintain financing of the universal service.

C 136 E/214

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

However, the Commission fails to make it clear how the compensation fund will operate, whereas in the
telecommunications sector, for example, detailed guidelines were set out in the proposals for directives.

Can the Commission say what factors support the idea of setting up a compensation fund? How will

1.
the fund operate and how will it be financed in the long term?

2. Will the setting up of a compensation fund be sufficient to ensure the quality of the postal service in
rural or sparsely-populated areas?

3. Will the creation of this fund guarantee equal access to the postal service for all users, not least in
terms of price?

Reply given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2000)

The compensation fund is one of the additional means provided for by Directive 97/67/EC of the
1.
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 the quality of service (1) which the Member
States may use for funding the universal service. The analytical elements providing support for this idea are
based on the fact that the cost accounting provided for under this directive should allow costs to be made
transparent.

Five Member States have made provision for a compensation fund in their legislation without putting it
into practice, however. The Commission will examine the details of these measures as state aid from the
point of view of the competition rules. On the basis of this analysis, the Commission could, depending on
the case, propose further principles to be applied to this compensation fund as happened in the
telecommunications sector.

However, it would not be right to perform a theoretical study of the operation of a compensation fund
now since Directive 97/67/EC has already indicated the parameters for such action (Article 9).

2.
The current directive establishes the universal service as a minimum to be provided in each Member
State. The activation of a compensation fund to ensure the operation of the universal service will probably
not be necessary in most cases since the draft directive of the Parliament and of the Council amending
Directive 97/67/EC, regarding the opening-up to competition of the Community(cid:146)s postal services, allows
for the possibility of 50 % of the postal receipts of those providing the universal service continuing to be
reserved if necessary.

Yes. The combination of one or more means provided by the directive for ensuring the universal
licence conditions, tariffs geared to costs, compensation funds) will allow a

3.
service (reserved service,
guarantee to be made that all users will have equal access to the postal service.

(1) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998.

(2001/C 136 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3256/00

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Revision of the postal directive (cid:129) special services

(20 October 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s new proposals make a distinction between standard or basic services, which would be
part of the universal service, and special services, a new category defined as services with an added value
that are not universal and hence cannot be reserved.

1.
Does the Commission not consider that these measures call into question the principle that the
universal service must be adaptable to technological change and clients(cid:146) needs, a principle that was
recognised by Article 5 of the 1997 Directive?