WRITTEN QUESTION E-0252/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Electrabel and energy-market liberalisation in the Flemish Region.
Date: 2001-02-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, EC Directive, EU control, European Commission, Flanders (Belgium), electrical energy, liberalisation of the market, national implementing measure, single market

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/163

the responsibility of the authorities managing the various operational programmes approved by the
Commission once the negotiations with the Greek authorities have been completed. It will in particular
be for the authorities managing the 13 regional programmes in the CSF for Greece to include projects on
fire prevention, in line with the requirements of each region.

(1) OJ L 326, 21.11.1986.

(2001/C 235 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0252/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Subject: Electrabel and energy-market liberalisation in the Flemish Region

EU Member States were required to transpose Directive 96/92 EC (1) concerning common rules for the
internal market in electricity into national legislation by 19 February 1999.

The directive establishes a framework for progressively introducing competition into the electricity sector
and lays down common rules for electricity production, transmission and distribution:

(cid:129) general rules on the organisation and operation of the electricity sector;

(cid:129) two options for introducing competition in production;

(cid:129) two options for organising access to the network;

(cid:129) transmission-network operation;

(cid:129) distribution-network operation; and

(cid:129) separate accounts for each activity (production,

transmission, distribution), and transparency of

accounts.

The Electrabel energy supplier is making cosmetic changes to its management structure as a means of
retaining its hold on the electricity distribution network in the Flemish Region. Its approach serves only to
enable Electrabel to comply formally with its obligations under the directive. But nothing would change in
the situation on the ground, so that the objectives set by the directive would not be implemented in
practice.

Is the Commission familiar with the Electrabel plan to retain its hold on the electricity distribution network
in the Flemish Region by way of a new management structure that complies formally with its obligations
under the directive but will in practice change nothing in the situation on the ground? If so, how will the
Commission act
to ensure that electricity distribution in the Flemish Region will comply with the
obligations imposed by the directive? If not, will the Commission familiarise itself as quickly as possible
with the Electrabel plan so as to prevent implementation of Directive 96/92 EC concerning common rules
for the internal market in electricity from being made impossible from the outset in the Flemish Region?

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2001)

The Commission is responsible, under its general terms of reference, for the administration of Community
law and, in this particular case, for the transposal by the national authorities of Directive 96/92/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (1).

C 235 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

In this context, it monitors the transposal of the afore-mentioned Directive by the competent authorities.
Accordingly the Commission addressed a letter of formal notice to the Belgian authorities in September
2000 plus a reasoned opinion adopted by Commission Decision of 21 December 2000.

The Belgian Government is responsible for ensuring the effective transposal of the Directive on its
territory.

As regards separate accounts for each activity (production, transport and distribution), this is essential to
the smooth running of the internal market. The Commission is therefore waiting for complete transposal,
notably the appointment of a transmission network operator and the introduction of, as under current
Community law, the unbundling of accounts and management.

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.

(2001/C 235 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0253/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Subject: Funds allocated to wine growers

Thousands of Portuguese wine growers could be seriously disadvantaged by the fact that funds to support
wine distillation have practically run out because Spain and Italy submitted their applications more quickly
than Portugal.

While there is no denying that the Portuguese Ministry for Agriculture should have published the
guidelines for submission of applications for Community wine distillation aid more promptly, it seems
unfair that the Commission should distribute aid on a (cid:145)first-come-first-served(cid:146) basis and thereby discrimi-
nate against farmers in countries facing administrative difficulties.

The Commission:

1. Will it confirm that the available resources have been practically used up by Italy and Spain?

2. What measures will be taken to solve this problem, given the need to alleviate the resulting difficulties

faced by thousands of Portuguese wine growers?

(2001/C 235 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0358/01

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 February 2001)

Subject: Wine distillation in Portugal

The entry into force of the new Common Organisation of the Market (COM) in wine on 1 August brought
about a substantial change in the rules and procedures relating to distillation operations. The previous
arrangements provided for preventive distillation, evenly distributed between all the Member States on the
basis of an overall balance of wine surpluses. Traditionally, this distillation was carried out in December.
The new regulation has abolished the overall wine balance and replaced preventive distillation with
voluntary distillation of wines to produce potable alcohol. This operation applies automatically to anyone
who registers, and begins on 1 September.

The Portuguese authorities and distillers did not realise in time the far-reaching changes involved and, as
the Commission is aware, Portugal was not included in the overall 12 million hectolitre wine distillation
quota.