WRITTEN QUESTION P-3613/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council. Action to combat trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children.
Date: 2000-11-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, child protection, sexual offence

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/91

on the amount of airport taxes and their possible adjustment to take account of the (cid:145)polluter-pays(cid:146)
principle, there is an urgent need for the Commission to state its views on this complaint. Can the
Commission say what steps it has taken to investigate the case, and what date it has set for completing its
investigation?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2001)

On the competition issue, the complaint lodged by the Honourable Member is based firstly on Article 81
(former Article 85) of the EC Treaty, read in conjunction with Article 86 (former Article 90), and secondly
on Articles 87 and 88 (former Articles 92 and 93).

As regards the aspects relating to Articles 81 and 86, the Commission has begun its examination of the
complaint. On 14 December 2000 it sent a letter to the complainants, including the Honourable Member.

As regards the (cid:145)state aid(cid:146) aspects (Article 87), the Commission sent a request for information to the Belgian
authorities. On the basis of their reply, it should be in a position to undertake a preliminary examination
of the complaint. It is unable at this stage to prejudge the possible outcome of the examination.

(2001/C 174 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3613/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(15 November 2000)

Subject: Action to combat trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children

Trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children are increasingly becoming transnational problems.
The cruelty of the crimes committed in this respect and the slowness of judicial procedures in many
Member States in tackling such cases are a source of deep concern.

The European Union has so far focused on the relationship between paedophilia and the Internet and has
ignored other far more important aspects. For instance, Title IV, point B of the Joint Action on combating
trafficking and sexual exploitation of children stipulated that the Council should, by the end of 1999,
assess the fulfilment by Member States of
their obligations under the Joint Action with regard to
improving judicial cooperation and approximation or revision of national legislation on action to combat
trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse of children. In its reply of 28 September 2000 to Written
Question P-1748/00, the Council states that it has not fulfilled this obligation and that (cid:145)that examination
will be carried out in the near future according to the rules laid down in the Decision. Consequently, the
Council is not yet in a position to verify Member States(cid:146) legislation in this area(cid:146).

When will the Council fulfil its obligation to carry out this assessment? Why has it not yet done so? What
obstacles did it encounter? Does the Council not consider that its failure to carry out the assessment
renders the Joint Action meaningless? Is there some reluctance within the Council? What further action
does the Council intend to take to apply Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union, which includes
action to combat trafficking in persons and offences against children among the measures aimed at
creating an area of freedom, security and justice?

C 174 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Reply

(26 February 2001)

The Council would draw the Honourable Members(cid:146) attention to the reply given to Written Question E-
3089/00 concerning an attack on a Jewish teacher by a group of neo-Nazi skinheads.

As regards equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, on 29 June 2000 the
Council adopted a Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of
racial or ethnic origin (1).

A proposal for a Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and
occupation and a proposal for a Decision establishing a Community action programme to combat
discrimination (2001-2006) are being examined by the Council and will shortly be adopted.

(1) OJ C 63, 4.3.1997, p. 2.

(2001/C 174 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3615/00

by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: ECJ judgment in Case C-205/98 (cid:129) tolls levied on goods vehicles using the Brenner motorway

The European Court of Justice ruled on 26 September 2000 that the Federal Republic of Austria had
infringed European Treaty provisions prohibiting discrimination by reason of its introduction or structur-
ing of tolls on goods vehicles using the Brenner motorway.

The Commission is asked:

1. The decision by the European Court of Justice applies exclusively to goods transport. To what extent
does this judgment also have implications for bus traffic using the Brenner motorway and for tolls
levied on bus traffic?

2.

Subsequent to the most recent increase in charges for bus traffic using the Brenner motorway, a price
adjustment has been applied as at 1 December 2000. The effect is to raise the price of the 10-day and
monthly toll discs by 16,27 %, while the annual toll disc will increase by 32,56 %. Does the European
Commission consider those increases, and the discrepancies in the percentage increase, as appropriate?

3. Does the Commission consider this action as also amounting to an infringement of the ban on

discrimination?

4. What action will the European Commission take where necessary to counteract infringements of the

ban on discrimination?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2001)

The decision by the Court of Justice applies exclusively to goods transport and has no implications

1.
for bus traffic using the Brenner motorway and for tolls levied on bus traffic.

2. and 3. While value added tax on tolls has to comply with the rules of the Sixth VAT Directive of the
there is no
Council 77/388/EEC such as interpreted by the Court
Community legislation aimed at harmonising tolls on buses as such. These tools therefore need only
respect
the EC Treaty, amongst which is the overall requirement of non-
discrimination on grounds of nationality. The information supplied by the Honourable Member does not
indicate the presence of any such discrimination. In addition, the discrepancies in the percentage increase

the basic principles of

in several recent

judgements (1),