WRITTEN QUESTION E-0617/01 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Council. Defence budgets of European NATO countries.
Date: 2001-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, NATO, defence budget, member country

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/51

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 2001)

The Commission regrets the delay in informing the Honourable Member of the outcome of its enquiries.

The Swedish authorities have informed the Commission about the reform of the Swedish system of student
loans. A new Student Benefits Act (1999:1395) will enter into force on 1 July 2001. Under the new
system, as of 1 July 2001, all persons who have to repay student loans will be treated in the same manner,
whether they live in Sweden or abroad. Persons with outstanding loans on the basis of the old Student
Benefit Act (1973:349) can ask after 1 July 2001 that the loans be repaid according to the provisions of
the new Student Benefit Act (1999:1395).

The Commission has asked the Swedish authorities to provide information about the effects of the reform
on those who work and live abroad and have outstanding loans on the basis of the old Student Benefits
Act. On the basis of this information the Commission will assess the situation and thereafter decide if
formal proceedings are needed or not.

(2001/C 340 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0603/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: European Union statute for Member States(cid:146) capitals

(2 March 2001)

The representative nature of the capitals of the Member States in connection with the institutional and
administrative services which they have to render vis-(cid:224)-vis the EU institutions by virtue of their status of
state capital is a matter of some importance. Thus, there is a certain imbalance between the obligations of
state capitals and those of other cities in the Union. To date,
the former have not received any
compensation which would enable them better to fulfil their role with greater institutional and financial
support.

Does the Council consider that the European Union should adopt a Statute for State Capitals in the
European Union so as to emphasise their nature as state capitals? If so, does not the Council consider that
such a Statute should also make it possible for economic compensation to be paid and provide for an
appropriate institutional rank for these cities which bear the burden of being the official capital of the state
they represent?

Reply

(13 July 2001)

The Council has never been called upon to discuss this question.

(2001/C 340 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0617/01

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Council

(2 March 2001)

Subject: Defence budgets of European NATO countries

What are the national defence budgets of the European countries assigned to NATO for the years 1998,
1999, 2000 and 2001?

C 340 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Reply

(10 July 2001)

The Council does not have the figures requested by the Honourable Member other than in the form
available to the public, and as from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

(2001/C 340 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0629/01

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Lisbon European Council and financial services

(6 March 2001)

1.
The 2000 Lisbon European Council stated that steps should be taken to facilitate the successful
participation of all investors in an integrated market eliminating barriers to investment in pension funds;
promoting further integration and better functioning of government bond markets through greater
consultation and transparency on debt issuing calendars, techniques and instruments, and improved
functioning of cross-border sale and repurchase (repo) markets; enhancing the comparability of companies(cid:146)
financial statements; and more intensive co-operation by EU financial market regulators. What steps have
been take in this regard?

2.
The 2000 Lisbon European Council stated that steps should be taken to (cid:145)ensure full implementation
of the Risk Capital Action Plan by 2003.(cid:146) Does the Commission believe this target will be met, and to what
evidence can it point to support its view?

3.
The 2000 Lisbon European Council stated that steps should be taken to (cid:145)conclude, in line with the
Helsinki European Council conclusions, the pending tax package.(cid:146) What steps have been taken in this
regard?

4.
The 2000 Lisbon European Council requested (cid:145)the Council and the Commission, using the existing
procedures, to present a report by Spring 2001 assessing the contribution of public finances to growth and
employment, and assessing, on the basis of comparable data and indicators, whether adequate concrete
measures are being taken in order to alleviate the tax pressure on labour (cid:133) redirect public expenditure
towards increasing the relative importance of capital accumulation (cid:133) [and] ensure the long-term
sustainability of public finances.(cid:146) When will this report be presented?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

The conclusions of the Lisbon European Council (March 2000) afforded high priority to measures that
would help to complete the Internal market for financial services and to improve the efficiency of
Community financial markets. Several specific areas for action were identified in the conclusions and
important progress has been made in these areas over the past year.

to the implementation of

With respect
the Commission
presented on 11 October 2000 a proposal for a directive on institutions for occupational retirement
provision (1) (pension funds). One aim is to ensure that institutions enjoy sufficient freedom to develop an
effective investment policy. This will be a decisive step towards the elimination of barriers to investment in
pension funds.

the Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP),

The Commission presented on 13 February 2001 a proposal for a regulation (2) that would require all
Community companies listed on a regulated market, including banks and insurance companies, to prepare
consolidated accounts in accordance with International Accounting Standards (IAS). Member States would
have the option to extend this requirement to unlisted companies and to the production of individual
accounts. The Regulation would help eliminate barriers to cross-border trading in securities by enhancing
the comparability of companies(cid:146) financial statements.