WRITTEN QUESTION P-0053/01 by Giuseppe Pisicchio (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Situation of Carime.
Date: 2001-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, competition, economic concentration, financial institution

C 187 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

The shield system is supposed to defend the US against a missile attack. However, the initiative is a threat
to security on the continent of Europe. The Russian government has pointed out that the NMD system is
incompatible with the ABM (anti-ballistic missile) Treaty of 1972. Robin Cook, Britain(cid:146)s Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, has expressed fears of a new arms race.

If the US Administration really does want to create a missile shield it needs the support of the UK
government. One part of the shield would be situated in North Yorkshire.

1. What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of the National Missile Defence system?

Does the Commission believe that the NMD system is compatible with the ABM Treaty of 1972?

2.
If so, on what grounds?

3.
Does the Commission share the fears of Robin Cook, Britain(cid:146)s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
of a new arms race if the United States develops the missile shield? If not, on what grounds does the
Commission reject Mr Cook(cid:146)s views?

In view of its replies to questions 1, 2 and 3, does the Commission support the siting of part of the

4.
missile shield in North Yorkshire?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2001)

This is an issue of defence which falls outside the scope of Community competence.

(2001/C 187 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0053/01

by Giuseppe Pisicchio (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Situation of Carime

Italy authorised the banking group Cariplo to acquire through its
During the 1990s the Bank of
subsidiaries a number of important credit institutions in the south of Italy such as Carical, Caripuglia,
Carisalerno and Mediocredito Sud, which were seriously in debt, at a cost of only a few hundred billion lire
for a network of 400 branches with more than 4000 employees.

The benefits of this operation were twofold. From the point of view of taxation, the outstanding debts
could be included in the consolidated balance sheet, while the share capital could be reconstituted by
undervaluing the old shareholdings using criteria designed to bring their value down sharply if they were
not converted into new ones, making it possible possible to recover the capital used for the purchase of
the banks themselves.

The existing institutions taken over by Cariplo were brought together in a single structure, Carime, in
which the majority shareholding of 66 % was transferred for ITL 2 300 billion to the Banco Popolare
Commercio e Industrial del Veneto in November 2000, which is considerably smaller in size than the bank
purchased.

At the time of the transfer, Carime had an overall value of 20 000 billion lire, with investments of 6000
billion lire, mainly in local development, at a time when this is particularly necessary.

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/171

In line with the Commission(cid:146)s policy to eliminate factors causing imbalance in competition and access to
credit in objective 1 regions, what will it do to overcome the obstacles to the balanced development of the
regions of southern Italy caused by the impoverishment of local instruments for gaining access to credit?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2001)

All the mergers to which the Honourable Member refers were examined and authorised by the national
authority, because they do not meet the conditions for the application of the Council Regulation (EEC)
No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (1).

It should however be recalled that an essential condition for the application of the EC Treaty rules on
competition is the existence of a prejudicial effect on the trade between Member States. Consequently, it is
possible that an issue concerning a national or local situation would not fall within the scope of the above-
mentioned provisions.

The situation described by the Honourable Member appears to be essentially of national nature, if not
regional, and hence it would be unlikely to affect significantly interstate trade.

In these circumstances it does not fall within the Commission(cid:146)s competence to take measures aimed at
resolving the situation described.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989 republished in OJ L 257, 21.9.1990.

(2001/C 187 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0055/01

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Fire retardants

In both the UK and Ireland, the use of fire retardants is compulsory in upholstered furniture. That
requirement has resulted in a fall in the number of deaths caused by house fires (see (cid:145)Effectiveness of
Furniture and Furnishings, Government Consumer Safety Research(cid:146), DTI). The problem with using fire
impact: fire retardants can trigger hormone
retardants, however, concerns the possible environmental
disorders. In reply to previous questions (Whitehead, Watson and Sterckx), the Commission has indicated
that it intends to evaluate current fire-safety standards and if necessary to draw up new standardisation
arrangements.

1. What deadline does the Commission intend to fix for making fire retardants compulsory in
upholstered furniture?

2. Which fire retardants does the European Commission intend to exempt from being made compul-
sory or prohibit altogether, having regard to their potential to cause hormone disorders?

The last few months have seen two tragic accidents, one in Austria, the other in the Netherlands, in which
clothing inflammability played a part.

Does the Commission consider that treatment with fire retardants should be made compulsory for

3.
sport and party clothing in particular? If so, what proposals can be expected and when?

4.

Does the Commission consider that warning labels would be a useful measure?