WRITTEN QUESTION E-0577/01 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Freedom of association in Bulgaria.
Date: 2001-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bulgaria, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, freedom of association, political parties

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/47

(2001/C 340 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0573/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 February 2001)

Subject: Infringement of Community law on cars belonging to individuals who move to Greece and to

those temporarily resident in Greece

By charging an excessive (cid:145)registration duty(cid:146), Greece is infringing the Community directive concerning the
use of cars by EU citizens who transfer their residence to another country. It is also infringing the
Community directive on the use of cars by EU citizens who are temporarily resident in Greece by not
complying, inter alia, with the principle of the proportionality of sanctions, since it imposes excessive fines
on temporary residents who own cars for private use. What action does the Commission intend to take to
ensure that Greece complies with the requirements of Community law?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2001)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s opinion regarding the problems facing European
citizens taking vehicles from other Member States with them when moving to Greece. The collection by
the Greek administration of charges significantly exceeding the approximate cost of the services rendered
for the registration of the vehicles in question is incompatible with Community law, and more specifically
with Council Directive 83/183/EEC of 28 March 1983 on tax exemptions applicable to permanent imports
from a Member State of the personal property of individuals (1). The Commission has therefore initiated an
infringement procedure against Greece under Article 226 (ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

The Commission also shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s opinion regarding the temporary use in Greece of
vehicles registered in other Member States. In response to petitions to Parliament and complaints from
European citizens about a series of Greek administrative measures restricting the freedom to use vehicles
registered in other Member States, the Commission has sent Greece a reasoned opinion (the second formal
stage in the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty). That reasoned opinion also
highlights the disproportionate nature of the penalties applied.

The Commission will be pursuing both procedures in accordance with the provisions of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 105, 23.4.1983.

(2001/C 340 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0577/01

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 February 2001)

Subject: Freedom of association in Bulgaria

On 29 February 2000, the Constitutional Court in Bulgaria declared a Macedonian-based political party,
OMO (cid:145)llinden(cid:146) (cid:129) PIRIN, unconstitutional. That party was registered in 1999 and took part
in the
municipal elections in October 1999. It has always declared that it would respect the constitutional and
legal system of Bulgaria and carry out its political activities peacefully. The party has lodged a complaint
with the European Court of Human Rights.

In answer to a previous Parliamentary Question (H-0290/00 (1)), the Council declared that the official
translation of the unconstitutional act was not yet available.

C 340 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Has the Council now received the official translation? Does it take the view that such decisions may violate
the right of freedom of association and constitutes discrimination against a national minority? Has the
Council asked for any explanation from the Bulgarian authorities?

Does the Council consider
criteria established in Copenhagen?

that such a decision is compatible with respect

for

the democratic

(1) Written reply dated 12 April 2000.

Reply

(10 July 2001)

The Council attaches the utmost importance to the respect, by the candidate countries, of the principles of
democracy, the rule of law and human rights. With regard to Bulgaria, the Council notes that the
Commission(cid:146)s 2000 Regular Report on Bulgaria(cid:146)s progress towards accession concluded that, in general,
Bulgaria continued to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria. The report stated, however, that (cid:145)Concerning
political representation of minorities, the Constitution forbids organisation of political parties on ethnic,
racial or religious grounds. It could be desirable to clarify these Constitutional provisions with reference to
the restrictions on the establishment of political parties, as it is important to ensure compatibility with
international obligations.(cid:146)

As regards the specific case of the declaration of the Constitutional Court in Bulgaria of 29 February 2000
that the Macedonian-based political party OMO (cid:145)llinden(cid:146) (cid:129) PIRIN was unconstitutional, as the Honourable
Parliamentarian recalls, an appeal has been lodged with the European Court of Human Rights. The Court(cid:146)s
decision on the case will assist the European Union in its analysis of the decision of the Bulgarian
Constitutional Court in the light of the political criteria established by the Copenhagen European Council.

If it turns out that there has been a violation of the fundamental principles mentioned above then the
European Union will make the appropriate representations to Bulgaria, particularly within the framework
of the bodies established by the Europe Agreement.

(2001/C 340 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0582/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Aid to help research scientists set up in business

(1 March 2001)

There is a growing trend in America and Asia towards schemes whereby scientists and engineers working
at official research establishments can opt to take either paid or unpaid leave in order to try to set up in
business by themselves.

The aim of such schemes lies in creating an uninterrupted cycle in which applied research and support for
innovation act as the stepping stones between basic research and the market.

Will the Commission say whether scientists and engineers working at the research establishments directly
answerable to it can opt to take either paid or unpaid leave in order to try to set up small innovative
undertakings? Do they stand to benefit from Community funding in embarking upon such a risky venture?

Answer givern by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2001)

Commission decision of 7 January 1998 setting up a European technology transfer initiative (ETTI) at the
Joint Research Centre (JRC) authorises the implementation of a number of specific actions in order to