WRITTEN QUESTION E-4021/00 by Lisbeth Grönfeldt Bergman (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Finnish environmental rules on packaging hinder competition.
Date: 2000-12-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Finland, deposit on a polluting product, environmental policy, environmental tax, packaging product, restriction on competition, trade restriction

C 187 E/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

(2001/C 187 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4021/00

by Lisbeth Gr(cid:246)nfeldt Bergman (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Finnish environmental rules on packaging hinder competition

The deposit system on aluminium cans and PET bottles in Sweden has been criticised because it hinders
the
imports and restricts competition on the Swedish market. That being so,
Commission has not intervened at all in the (cid:145)environmental levies(cid:146) in use in Finland which apply to the
same products. In order to have access to the Finnish market, foreign producers have to pay a FIM 6
(€ 1,01) per bottle environmental levy, which amounts to a supplement of some 200 % on the product
price.

is noticeable that

it

In the light of the above, how does the Commission justify approval of the Finnish environmental levy,
considering that it considerably weakens the competitive position of foreign producers in Finland?he

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2001)

Concerning the Swedish deposit system, the Commission is not aware of what criticism the Honourable
Member refers to. In any case, there is currently no indication that this system is not in conformity with
Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994, on packaging and packaging waste (1)
or the EC Treaty.

Concerning the Finnish system, two facts should be specified. Firstly, the supplementary levy for beverages
which do not belong to an approved recycling or re-use system amounts to FIM 4 per litre (and not
FIM 6 per bottle). Secondly, the supplementary levy is applicable not only to foreign products but also to
products of domestic origin.

Concerning the compatibility of the system of the Finnish supplementary levy with the Directive and the
internal market rules, the Commission is at present examining the issue on the basis of registered
complaints.

(1) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994.

(2001/C 187 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4022/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) and Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Abolition of tax privileges for staff in the diplomatic service

(3 January 2001)

Provisions governing diplomatic privileges are laid down in the 1961 Vienna Convention. During the past
few months, the undersigned have repeatedly forwarded written questions to the Commission, arguing that
this Convention has since become outdated and should be reviewed, in particular with the aim of resolving
the issue as to whether existing privileges are at all justified in the prevailing EU internal market.

In its answers, the Commission (in particular see E-1996/00) constantly referred to the fact that the
for an amendment to current Community
abolition or revision of diplomatic privileges would call
legislation and at the same time would require a unanimous Council decision.

Does the Council intend to review the diplomatic privileges which are certainly no longer justified in
today(cid:146)s EU internal market? Will it also be considering the relevance of the 1961 Vienna Convention in
connection with efforts to bring about a reform of the Commission?