WRITTEN QUESTION E-3897/00 by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Council. Advance supply of?5 and?10 banknotes.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: private-sector liquidity, single monetary policy

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/177

(2001/C 174 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3896/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Further question concerning late payments by the Commission

Concerning my question E-2571/00 (1) concerning late payments by the Commission, the reply given by
the Commissioner was not only three months in coming but was also, in my opinion, incomplete and
inconsistent.

Can the Commission give its reasons for stipulating a 60-day deadline with regard to its own transactions
while recommending, in Directive 2000/35/EC (2), that the deadline for all commercial transactions be set
at 30 days? What are the Commission(cid:146)s justifications for giving itself so much more favourable treatment
than the private sector?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.
(2) OJ L 200, 8.8.2000, p. 35.

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2001)

Directive 2000/35/EC of 29 June 2000 on combating late payments in commercial transactions does not
set a 30-day deadline for all commercial transactions in the private sector. The public authorities and the
private sector continue to enjoy the right to negotiate payment deadlines in their commercial relations. A
30-day deadline applies only if the contract is silent on this point. By setting a payment deadline of not
more than 60 days for its own contracts, the Commission has not, therefore, given itself more favourable
treatment than the private sector.

(2001/C 174 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3897/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Advance supply of?5 and?10 banknotes

According to a recent report by the committee responsible for monitoring the introduction of the euro, it
has just been realised that it will not be possible to adapt most automatic cash dispensers in the EU
Member States to issue € 5 banknotes and, in certain countries, € 10 banknotes also. In other words cash
dispensers will generally only be able to issue € 20, € 50 or € 100 banknotes. This will cause a major
problem for the retail trade which, after 1 January 2002, will be receiving payment in large denominations
and require to give change in € 5 or € 10 banknotes, which will rapidly become very hard to obtain. In
view of this apparently unforeseen situation should the question of advance issuing of € 5 and € 10
banknotes in particular be reconsidered? In certain countries from 15 December 2001, the public will be
able to purchase a (cid:145)kit(cid:146) containing all euro coins with which they will thus be able to familiarise
themselves. In the weeks leading up to 1 January 2000, would it not be a good idea to enable the
European general public to purchase € 5 and € 10 banknotes, thereby facilitating the transition to the
euro?

Reply

(12 March 2001)

On 8 November 1999 the Council took note of the fact that participating Member States consider it
helpful to provide financial institutions and certain other groups, notably cash in transit companies and
retailers, with notes and coins some time before 1 January 2002. Participating Member States underlined
that this must not lead to putting Euro banknotes and coins into circulation before 1 January 2002.

C 174 E/178

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Details of Member States changeover plans to the Euro are summarised in the Commission report to the
European Parliament, the Council and the ECB in particular of 18 July 2000 (COM(2000) 443 final).

(2001/C 174 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3898/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Advance supply of € 5 and € 10 banknotes

According to a recent report by the committee responsible for monitoring the introduction of the euro it
has just been realised that it will not be possible to adapt most automatic cash dispensers in the EU
Member States to issue € 5 banknotes and, in certain countries, € 10 banknotes also. In other words cash
dispensers will generally only be able to issue € 20, € 50 or € 100 banknotes. This will cause a major
problem for the retail trade which, after 1 January 2002, will be receiving payment in large denominations
and require to give change in € 5 or € 10 banknotes which will rapidly become very hard to obtain. In
view of this apparently unforeseen situation, should the question of advance issuing of € 5 and € 10n
banknotes in particular be reconsidered? In certain countries, from 15 December 2001, the public will be
able to purchase a kit containing all euro coins with which they will thus be able to familiarise themselves.
In the weeks leading up to 1 January 2000 would it not be a good idea to enable the European general
public to purchase € 5 and € 10 banknotes thereby facilitating the transition to the euro?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2001)

The Member States of the European monetary union (EMU) have agreed to reduce the period of dual
circulation of banknotes and coins in 2002 as much as possible. This is in order to reduce the possibility
of confusion for the citizens and to alleviate the necessity for the retail sector to operate in two currencies.

A banknote frontloading to the public could in effect lengthen the dual circulation period and could run
counter to the reasons that led to its shortening. Moreover, banknote frontloading to the public could
entail the risk of early circulation of the notes before 1 January 2002.

(2001/C 174 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3899/00

by Astrid Lulling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Coin exchange on introduction of the euro in 2002

On return from visits abroad EC Member State residents frequently have coins which, unlike banknotes
they are unable to change into the currency of their own country, since the costs related for the exchange
transaction would be too high. These coins are generally kept for use on a subsequent visit. However, after
1 January 2002, it will not longer be possible to use them.

Does the Commission not consider that measures should be taken to ensure that these coins can be
exchanged for euro coins in all Euroland countries during the transitional period? Is the Commission
prepared to issue banks with instructions or recommendations on the matter so as to avoid the situation
arising where banks refuse to exchange the coins and ensure that coins from the twelve Member States
converting to the euro can be exchanged without additional charges?