WRITTEN QUESTION E-3549/00 by Rijk van Dam (EDD) to the Commission. Netherlands levy on land-surface materials.
Date: 2000-11-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, common transport policy, environmental protection, mining extraction, sustainable development, tax exemption

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/159

This question, like many others, is currently being examined and discussed in the Commission and in the
Management Committee for Wine and no decision has been taken for the moment regarding the final
content of the implementing rules.

In addition the Commission wishes to point out that bottles of the (cid:145)Bocksbeutel(cid:146) type or similar are
currently reserved, in the case of Community wines, for the wines of certain regions of Germany, Greece,
Italy and Portugal listed in the Community legislation.

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.

(2001/C 163 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3549/00

by Rijk van Dam (EDD) to the Commission

(15 November 2000)

Subject: Netherlands levy on land-surface materials

The Netherlands Government intends to introduce a levy on land-surface materials. Sea sand from the
Netherlands area of the continental shelf and imports of finished products from abroad are exempt from
this levy. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has had an economic and environmental impact
study carried out. Another study, by the Netherlands Economic Institute in Rotterdam, has shown that this
action will divert significant volumes of traffic into road transport in countries bordering on the Nether-
lands at the expense of inland waterway transport in the Netherlands.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Does it consider, in relation to transport both in the European Union and its Member States, that
every effort must be made to implement sustainable policies making the greatest possible use of
modes of transport that put least pressure on the environment?

2. How,

in the light of

the foregoing, does the Commission assess the measure adopted by the

Netherlands Government?

3. Does the Commission consider that Member States should only introduce measures that will have a
serious impact on the situation in other Member States after careful consultation with those States?

4.

Is the Commission prepared to bring its position on this matter to the attention of the Netherlands
Government?

(2001/C 163 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3550/00

by Johannes Blokland (EDD) to the Commission

(15 November 2000)

Subject: Netherlands levy on land-surface materials

The Netherlands Government intends to introduce a levy on land-surface materials. Sea sand from the
Netherlands area of the continental shelf and imports of finished products from abroad are exempt from
this levy. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has had an economic and environmental impact
study carried out. Another study, by the Netherlands Economic Institute in Rotterdam, has shown that this
action will, in particular, destroy job opportunities in border regions as a consequence of lost exports?

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Does it consider that the action taken disrupts the operation of the internal market?

2.

Is the action taken, viz. exempting sea sand and imports of finished products from abroad, compatible
in the Commission(cid:146)s opinion with WTO rules on international trade?