WRITTEN QUESTION E-1524/01 by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Unequal treatment of EU citizens by a Swedish supermarket chain.
Date: 2001-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, European citizenship, Sweden, consumer protection, discrimination on the basis of nationality, distributive trades

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/135

The island of El Hierro (Canaries) participates in the Islands 2010 initiative, an Altener project cofinanced
by the Commission which takes on board the main ideas of promoting the incorporation of new the
100 % RES communities.

A wind energy plant combined with hydroelectric production has been co-financed too in the frame of
Altener.

Reflecting the Commission interest on renewable energy sources, a new target call of the Fifth framework
programme of Research and Technology Development (1998-2002) of the Community,
(cid:145)Sustainable
is part of one of the thematic programme
communities(cid:146) was launched at the end of 2000. This call
(cid:145)Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development(cid:146).

In this call priority is given to integration of renewable energy sources and distributed generation of energy
systems. A second call is open now with a closing date on the 14th of December 2001.

The Commission, as part of its policy for encouraging the development of renewable energies in Europe
has launched this specific call under the Fifth framework programme. The project of El Hierro could be
eligible under this call if conditions like added Community value and innovation would be fulfilled.

For more detailed information, please consult the website: http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/home.html.

Finally, in its proposal for a Directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the
internal electricity market (1), the Commission proposes a 22 % contribution by renewable energy to the
total electricity consumption. Council adopted its common position on the Directive on 23 March
2001 (2). The text of the common position was approved by Parliament in second reading on the 4th of
July 2001.

(1) OJ C 311, 31.10.2000.
(2) OJ C 142, 15.5.2001.

(2001/C 364 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1524/01

by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Unequal treatment of EU citizens by a Swedish supermarket chain

The Swedish supermarket chain ICA pursues a policy of issuing a shoppers(cid:146) card to its customers who may
then save money by taking advantage of various special offers in ICA supermarkets. A lady who is not
a Swedish national applied for such a card but was rejected on the grounds that she did not possess an
(cid:145)identity number(cid:146). ICA claimed that it was obliged to reject her application and referred to Swedish
legislation on tax returns and annual statements. According to ICA, the fact that non-Swedish nationals
pay taxes (including property taxes) in Sweden and hold a Swedish bank account is immaterial.

1.
ICA invokes Swedish tax legislation. Can the Commission indicate whether ICA is correct in so
doing? If it is correct, to what extent does the Commission believe that such legislation is in breach of the
relevant European Union legislation? Does the Commission agree with me that application of this Swedish
legislation results in direct discrimination?

2.
If the possession of an identity number is so important under Swedish law, does the Commission
agree with me that the Swedish Government is obliged to issue the person involved with such identity
numbers, given that she is legally resident in Sweden and pays property taxes there?

Does the Commission deem it admissible for non-nationals to be the subject of discrimination in so

3.
far as they regularly have to pay higher prices than nationals for the same products?

4.

To what extent does this situation apply in other Swedish supermarkets?

Is the Commission prepared to point out to the Swedish Government and to ICA that they may be

5.
guilty of discrimination?

C 364 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2001)

The Commission would like to offer the following answer in response to the honourable Member(cid:146)s
question:

(cid:129) On the basis of the information that the Commission has at the moment, the Swedish legislation to
which the honourable Member refers does not apparently impose discrimination based on the
possession of a personal identity number. It seems that this discrimination stems from the decision of
the Swedish supermarket chain, which thus has no valid justification in referring to Swedish
legislation. As for the fourth part of the question, the Commission has no information regarding
similar practices by other supermarkets in Sweden.

(cid:129) However, in order to obtain fuller and more accurate information, the Commission has sent a letter to

the supermarket chain and to the Swedish authorities requesting further details.

(cid:129) As soon as the Commission has this information, it will provide the honourable Member with results

of its investigation as quickly as possible.

(2001/C 364 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/01

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Transport of animals by sea

According to a report from a Dutch national sailing as a passenger on a cargo boat, large numbers of
animals are being transported by sea from the United Kingdom and Ireland, frequently in closed containers
with wire mesh on one side only, in pitiable conditions.

Can the European Commission indicate the extent of such transport and the European Union legislation
which is applicable to the transport of animals by sea?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Transport by sea is mainly used by the United Kingdom to export sheep to the continent. Export of live
cattle from the United Kingdom has been forbidden since 1996 because of Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy. Exports of live sheep are now also banned because of foot-and-mouth disease.

Transport by sea is largely used by Ireland to export cattle to other Member States and third countries.
However it should be mentioned that Ireland has adopted specific rules for the transport of animals by
sea that go further than Community legislation in this field.

Transport by sea is also used regularly to export cattle to some third countries (mainly Middle East and
North Africa).

Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and
amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (1), as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of
29 June 1995 (2), lays down Community standards for the protection of animals during transport. General
principles of the Directive as well as special provisions of that same Directive apply to the transport of
animals by sea.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.