WRITTEN QUESTION E-3293/00 by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission. Failure to comply with the Schengen agreement.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Schengen Agreement, air transport, customs formalities, infringement of EU law

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/81

The current high oil prices, combined with the traditional oil linkage of gas pricing in Europe, have made
particularly apparent the potential benefits of gas-to-gas competition, a key element in the creation of the
internal energy market, and have reinforced the need to speed up the completion of the internal energy
market.

An effective opening of the European gas market and a real choice of supplier for all eligible customers
form the necessary framework for creating supply side competition and hence for achieving real gas-to-gas
competition.

The Community interest requires gas-to-gas competition to continue to develop, thereby decoupling the
oil/gas price relationship. Directive 98/30/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998
concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas (1) already envisages the development of
gas-to-gas competition through the right of eligible customers to get third party access to networks,
including upstream pipelines right up to the wellhead. However, accelerating the opening up of the gas
market to competition in order to achieve a fully operational internal market would further facilitate gas-
to-gas competition. In this respect, the experience of other countries has shown that when increasing
numbers of eligible customers can source competitively, gas producers will be forced increasingly to
compete with one another in terms of price.

The Commission, therefore, considers it crucial to accelerate the completion of the internal energy market,
as requested by the Lisbon European Council. The oil linkage of gas prices, coupled with the economic
effects it produces, is, in itself, a legitimate reason for ensuring that the internal gas market develops
rapidly and to the benefit of all Community citizens.

(1) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998.

(2001/C 163 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3293/00

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Failure to comply with the Schengen agreement

The Italian civil aviation authorities oblige persons travelling to countries that have signed the Schengen
treaty from Italian airports without customs facilities, airfields and helipads to comply with various
formalities precluded by that agreement.

For example, circular 133/U of 21 April 1999, issued by the Bergamo-Orio al Serio Air Traffic Control
office, provides for authorisation to be given for the purpose of carrying out frontier controls and
explicitly states that these should apply to all flights, regardless of whether they involve Schengen or
non-Schengen countries.

Do these provisions comply with the Schengen treaty and, if not, what action does the Commission intend
to take to ensure that the Italian civil aviation authorities also observe that agreement?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the circular and the facts referred to by the Honourable Member. It is
conducting an enquiry in the Member State in question and will inform the Honourable Member of its
findings.