WRITTEN QUESTION E-1536/01 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Independent TV broadcasters.
Date: 2001-05-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, commercial media, communications industry, complaint to the Commission, dominant position, pluralism in the media

C 350 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

(2001/C 350 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1536/01

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2001)

Subject: Independent TV broadcasters

Can the Commission state if it has received complaints, and how many, from independent TV broadcasters
regarding abuse of monopoly positions by state subsidised broadcasting organisations and from which
Member States it has received such complaints? Does the Commission regard the position of independent
broadcasting Television stations throughout the Union as being satisfactory from the point of view of
competition policy?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2001)

The Commission is able to inform the Honourable Member that it is currently dealing with a single case,
involving Austria, pursuant to Council Regulation No 17 (1) relating to the possible abuse of a dominant
position in breach of Article 82 (ex Article 86) of the EC Treaty by a TV broadcaster financed by public
funds. In the field of state aid the Commission has received complaints from Denmark, Greece, Spain,
France, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Portugal and the United Kingdom regarding state subsidised broadcasters.

The Commission notes that the situation for independent TV broadcasters varies considerably from
Member State to Member State and it will examine any case of restriction of competition brought to its
attention.

(1) OJ 13, 21.2.1962.

(2001/C 350 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1538/01

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2001)

Subject: Vehicle imports (UK)

Does the Commission have any statistical research into price fixing by car manufacturers, so that vehicles
which are manufactured and purchased on the continent of Europe by car importers cannot be imported
into the United Kingdom at prices lower than those of the official franchised dealer? The case particularly
in point is the new model of the VW Passat.

Does the Commission have any information on the legal validity of a so-called (cid:145)right-hand drive surcharge(cid:146)
reportedly being levied on customers to raise prices in the UK?

Does the Commission believe that, if proven, such practices would be in breach of the Single Market?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2001)

The Commission has no statistical data on price fixing by car manufacturers. Price fixing by car
manufacturers is the subject of a black clause under Article 6(1) of sector-specific Block Exemption
(Commission Regulation (EC) No 1475/95 of 28 June 1995 on the application of Article 85(3) of the
Treaty to certain categories of motor vehicle distribution and servicing agreements (1)) and if proven would
constitute a breach of Article 81 (ex Article 85) of the EC Treaty. The Commission does, however, publish
bi-annual surveys of prices for new cars across the Union (2). It does this to promote price transparency,
which should in turn both encourage European citizens to purchase their vehicles where prices are lowest
and enable national authorities to monitor prices.