WRITTEN QUESTION E-1307/01 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE),Willy De Clercq (ELDR), Robert Goebbels (PSE), Den Dover (PPE-DE),Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) and Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Council. Sector-specific burden upon vending machine operators on the introduction of the euro.
Date: 2001-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: automatic vending machine, euro, financial loss, indemnification, investment cost

C 81 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

tasks. That target is for the provision of military self-sustaining forces of up to 15 brigades or 50 000 to
60 000 persons, capable of being deployed at 60 days notice for up to one year and available in 2003. As
has been noted in the conclusions of successive European Council(cid:146)s, these capabilities (the so-called (cid:145)Rapid
Reaction Force(cid:146)) do not constitute a standing or European Army. The decision to participate in any mission
remains the sovereign decision of each Member State.

In addition to military crisis management capabilities and as mandated by the Feira European Council,
the EU is also developing capabilities in the field of civilian crisis management. By 2003, Member States
should, inter alia, be able to provide up to 5 000 police officers for international missions across the range
of conflict prevention and crisis management operations, and within that overall target be able to identify
and deploy, within 30 days, up to 1 000 police officers.

Decisions on the deployment of armed forces for crisis management in EU-led military operations with or
without recourse to NATO assets are taken by the Council in accordance with Article 23 of the EU Treaty.

The Council also appoints the operation commander. Under all circumstances, including for an operation
calling on NATO assets and capabilities and including also the choice of all or part of the chain of
command (e.g. operation commander, force commanders), the entire chain of command remains at all
times under the political control and strategic direction of the Council/Council bodies (Political and
Security Committee).

It is for individual Member States to decide whether to contribute troops or resources to each specific crisis
management operation.

(2002/C 81 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1307/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE),
Willy De Clercq (ELDR), Robert Goebbels (PSE), Den Dover (PPE-DE),
Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) and Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Council

(4 May 2001)

Subject: Sector-specific burden upon vending machine operators on the introduction of the euro

According to various studies from the Dutch research institute NEI and European Vending Association
(EVA),
the introduction of the euro creates a disproportionate sector-specific burden upon vending
machine operators, which are mostly SMUs. Whilst the retail trade claims that it will have to bear costs
amounting to 1-2 % of annual turnover, according to EVA the vending industry will be facing costs of at
least 10 % of annual turnover. Furthermore, the logistical and technical aspects of switching the 2,2 million
food and drink machines to the euro will also create inevitable turnover losses during the DCP, as not all
machines can be switched overnight. According to a preliminary legal memorandum drawn up by Van
Wijmen Nouwen, there is a legal basis for claiming compensation for sector-specific costs in at least seven
euro-area countries: Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Ireland.

Does the Council believe that the EVA figures relating to the sector-specific burden upon vending machine
operators are valid?

Does it agree that, in at least seven euro-area countries, a legal basis exists for claiming compensation for
sector-specific costs?

What measures does it think will be appropriate to support and/or compensate the vending industry,
especially SMUs?

Have any measures been planned to date?

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/19

Reply

(20 November 2001)

Concerning the first and third questions, the Council has not received any proposal from the Commission.

As regards the second question, the attention of the Honourable MEP is drawn to the fact that it is not up
to the Council to comment or to evaluate, in general or on specific points, the legal system of Member
States.

(2002/C 81 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1311/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(4 May 2001)

Subject: Freedom of information in Italy and Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union reads: (cid:145)1. Everyone has the right to
freedom of expression. This right shall
include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart
information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. 2. The freedom
and pluralism of the media shall be respected.(cid:146)

Can the Council state whether Italy(cid:146)s national law No 62 of 7 March 2001: (cid:145)New rules on publishing and
on publishing products and amendments to Law No 416 of 5 August 1981(cid:146), published in Italy(cid:146)s Official
Journal No 67 of 21 March 2001, is not in open breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union?

Reply

(21 November 2001)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that, apart from the cases provided for in Article 7 of
the Treaty on European Union, it is not for the Council to express an opinion on the observance of
fundamental rights in the Member States.

The Council would also draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that, pursuant to Article 51 of
the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, its provisions (cid:145)are addressed to the institutions
and bodies of the Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and to the Member States only
when they are implementing Union law(cid:146).

(2002/C 81 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1333/01

by Ilka Schr(cid:246)der (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(24 April 2001)

Subject: Integration of European intelligence structures

In recent weeks, several commentators have argued that the establishment of EU military structures under
the common foreign and security policy, such as the setting up last February of the Political and Security
Committee, the EU Military Committee and the Military General Staff, will inevitably culminate in the
setting up of the EU(cid:146)s own intelligence service. Particularly during the Kosovo conflict, it is reported that
military contingents from the EU Member States involved became painfully aware of just how dependent
they were on information supplied to them by US intelligence.

Does the Council share the view that Europe(cid:146)s own intelligence capabilities are indeed lacking?