WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/00 by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Problems for German horticulture farms under glass.
Date: 2000-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, Netherlands, State aid, energy consumption, glasshouse cultivation, heating, horticulture, price of energy

C 163 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

4. What are the reasons for the delay which has meant that the Court of Auditors report on the 1999

ECB accounts has still not been published?

5. Will the Commission supply Parliament with copies of the ECB(cid:146)s detailed estimates and final accounts

and the related documents approved by ECB bodies?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

According to Article 10.4 of the Statute of the European system of central banks (ESCB) the proceedings of
the meetings of
the European central bank (ECB) are confidential. The
the governing council of
Commission is not able to provide the requested information.

The Commission does not intend to intervene in the relationship between the Court of auditors and
the ECB.

The Commission considers that all institutions and bodies should ensure an efficient execution of their
tasks.

The Commission understands that the publication of the report of the Court of auditors on the 1999 ECB
accounts is not due until beginning of 2001.

The Commission cannot supply the Parliament with copies of the ECB(cid:146)s estimates. As far as the annual
accounts are concerned these documents are published on an annual basis according to Article 26.2 of the
Statute of the ESCB. These documents contain a profit and loss account as well as comments and
explanations on this account.

(2001/C 163 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/00

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Problems for German horticulture farms under glass

Germany(cid:146)s horticulture farms under glass have seen an increase of more than 200 % in the cost of heating
greenhouses since February 1999. A glaring mismatch exists in competition with the Netherlands, for
example, since firms there are required to pay only one third of the heating costs when compared with
their German colleagues. The higher costs in Germany cannot however be offset by higher prices in the
marketplace. This leads to distortion in the agricultural sector, which is a Community responsibility.

1.

How in the Commission(cid:146)s opinion can such a glaring distortion of competition be tackled?

2. What measures is it proposing to eliminate the existing imbalances?

3.
Does it harbour misgivings on grounds of competition law about transitional aid for this winter (cid:129)
e.g. in the form of cheap loans or other subsidies (cid:129) and about a comprehensive programme for rational
and efficient energy use?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2000)

1.
The Commission is aware of the fact that there may be differences between Member States in energy
prices, in particular for the heating of glasshouses. These differences are mainly caused by divergent fiscal
systems and different policy options in the various Member States.

6.6.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/149

The Dutch energy pricing system has been examined within the context of state aid measure N 464/94.
The Commission concluded that the tariff based on the notified formula did not give an economic
advantage to glass house horticulture vis-(cid:224)-vis other sectors of the Dutch economy which can obtain the
same tariff, if they use the same quantities of gas. Therefore, it was concluded that the agreement between
Gasunie and the Dutch horticulturists did not constitute aid.

That agreement has in the meantime been renewed. The price of gas is linked with the price of heavy fuel
oil. Every quarter the price of gas is adjusted to the average price of heavy fuel oil over the last 12 months
before the quarter concerned. As the principles underlying the new agreement remain the same as in case
N 464/94, there is no need for the Commission to re-examine this matter. By way of conclusion, there is
no indication that the Dutch energy prices for glasshouse heating constitute a violation of Community
competition rules.

2.

The Commission envisages no action in this specific field.

3.
Such measures would have to be examined on the basis of state aid rules. In the absence of more
information on the specifics of such measures, the Commission is not in a position to indicate whether
such measures would be compatible.

(2001/C 163 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3516/00

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Supply restrictions imposed on commercial vehicles by Mitsubishi-Deutschland

The firm of Mitsubishi-Deutschland (MMC Auto Deutschland GmbH in D-65488 Trebur) is endeavouring
to compel its business partners to sign the following undertakings: (cid:145)The firm (cid:133) hereby undertakes not to
supply Mitsubishi commercial vehicles for competition purposes to unauthorised resellers. Commercial
vehicles also means vehicles that have been registered for only one or a few days without having been used
on the roads as intended.(cid:146) A contract penalty of DEM 10 001 is payable where this condition is breached.

1.

Is the Commission of the opinion that such supply restrictions are compatible with the EC Treaty?

2.

How does it view this specific case?

3. What action does it intend to take on this issue?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Under the Block Exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1475/95 of 28 June 1995 on the
application of Article 85(3) of the Treaty to certain categories of motor vehicle distribution and servicing
agreements (1)), manufacturers or importers may refuse to allow their dealers to sell new vehicles to
resellers outside the distribution network. Resellers include (apparent) final consumers who purchase new
vehicles with the intention of reselling them, i.e. for the purposes of trade (2). The ban is intended to
safeguard the manufacturer(cid:146)s or importer(cid:146)s choice of distribution system.