WRITTEN QUESTION E-0026/01 by Marianne Thyssen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Changeover of electronic payment systems to use of the euro.
Date: 2001-01-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, bank charges, dominant position, electronic money, euro, exchange transaction

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/161

commissioned by the Commission, which noted that the market was adequately supplied and that the
shortfall could be estimated at 4 000 tonnes. The Commission has never explained why it placed at risk
a whole fishing and industrial sector, which had always followed the approach until then favoured by the
Community of seeking to boost integration, by tabling such a damaging proposal as the suspension of
custom tariffs on tuna loin.

Will the Commission explain what its real motives were in tabling this proposal and what interests it was
seeking to defend?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

The Commission has already given some indications on the factors leading it to submit the proposal
concerned in its answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-0756/00 (1).

The increasing demand for loin has been partly met by a steady increase in imports from non-member
countries. The Commission deduces from this fact that the major trend on the Community market for
fishery products towards increasing dependence on non-member countries for supplies of raw materials is
also occurring on the tuna market.

The study also confirms that the Community firms using tuna loin as a raw material for producing
preserves are thereby improving their competitiveness both inside the Community and on the international
market. The study vindicates the Commission(cid:146)s opinion that this improved competitiveness is all the more
necessary given that certain tuna-canning firms in the Community will have to carry out structural
adjustments if they are to secure any long-term viability.

Lastly, the Commission is aware of a real supply deficit which, although limited, can have a seasonal
impact on the Community market in this product.

In 2000, as in previous years, the Commission submitted proposals to open restricted quotas for tuna loin,
and the Council adopted them, thereby opening the quotas.

As far as the medium term is concerned, the Council and the Commission made a joint statement on
17 December 1999, to the effect that a multiannual quota of 4 000 tonnes at 6 % duty would be opened
for 2001-2003. This quota will allow the Community tuna-canning industry to cope with the supply
deficit mentioned above. For those Community firms which must carry out structural adjustments, it will
also ease the transition to greater competitiveness on the Community and international markets.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001.

(2001/C 187 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0026/01

by Marianne Thyssen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Changeover of electronic payment systems to use of the euro

Major public information campaigns are planned for 2001 in order to ensure that the changeover from
national to euro coins and notes runs as smoothly as possible.

Consumers will unquestionably be encouraged to make more use, wherever possible, of electronic payment
systems in order to facilitate the changeover.

C 187 E/162

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

Is the Commission aware that such payments are not free of charge, and that the costs are borne by the
distribution sector and the consumer? In some Member States,
including Belgium, there is a virtual
monopoly on the electronic payment systems market. Has the Commission received complaints relating to
this? Have inquiries been carried out by the Commission itself? If so, what is the state of affairs? What
specific action is the Commission planning to take in the period prior to the actual changeover from
national to euro coins and notes in order to prevent abuses of dominant positions?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2001)

like any other means of payment including cash
The Commission is aware that electronic payments,
payments, have costs and that these costs may be charged to the users of electronic payment systems, that
is merchants and consumers.

The Commission has received a complaint from Unizo (formerly NCMV), a Belgian association of retailers,
against Banksys, the operator of the Belgian electronic payment system BanContact/MisterCash. According
to Unizo Banksys abuses its dominant position on the Belgian market for electronic payments systems by
charging smaller retailers excessive and discriminatory prices. The Commission is investigating the
complaint and expects to finalise its examination in the course of this year.

A possible abuse of a dominant position, pursuant to Community competition law, cannot be excluded,
a priori, but naturally the Commission can start an examination when there are concrete indications that
an undertaking is abusing its dominant position on a certain market. Such an examination can be started
both following a complaint or ex officio.

(2001/C 187 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0027/01

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Supply of buttermilk

Paragraph 36 of the Court of Auditors Special Report No 1/99 concerning aid for the use of skimmed
milk and skimmed-milk powder as animal feed (1) states (cid:145)It was found in the Netherlands that the main aid
beneficiary (98 % in 1996) supplied buttermilk produced, without denaturing, to a farm in Germany. The
Dutch authorities, however, had never checked whether the buttermilk in question was actually used for
animal feed and, moreover, they had not asked the German authorities to carry out such checks.(cid:146)

The Commission(cid:146)s reply (contained in the same report) was as follows: (cid:145)For the case mentioned by the
Court concerning the Netherlands (paragraph 36) the Commission(cid:146)s services have initiated the procedure
for the necessary follow-up checks on-the-spot.(cid:146)

In the light of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

(a) What company (or companies) was (or were) involved;

(b) What action was taken by the Commission and the local authorities;

(c) What on-the-spot follow-up checks have been and are to be carried out;

(d) What is the current situation?

(1) OJ C 147, 27.5.1999.