WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/01 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Measures to prevent abuses during introduction of the euro.
Date: 2001-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, consumer movement, consumer protection, euro, price increase, price stability

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/35

In addition to animal welfare provisions, Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council
of 27 January 1997, concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients (3) provides for the protection of
consumer health. Novel foods and novel food ingredients may not be placed on the market unless they are
authorised. Pursuant to Article 1.2 (f) foods and food ingredients to which a new production process will
be applied, are subject to a full safety assessment,
if their nutritional value, metabolism or the level
undesirable substances is affected.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.
(2) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.
(3) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.

(2002/C 115 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/01

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

Subject: Measures to prevent abuses during introduction of the euro

(19 July 2001)

In the run-up to the introduction of the euro, the main fear among European consumers is that it will lead
to higher prices.

The major concern is that the changeover to the euro will lead traders to increase their prices when
rounding up decimal figures and the fear of being cheated continues to spread.

Does the Commission agree that, in order to calm such fears among consumers during the next stage of
the European currency, it should advocate codes of conduct on this question, including coercive measures,
so that consumers can use the new currency without anxiety and without worrying about possible offences
that some traders might attempt to commit?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s views. It was for this reason that it promoted the
signing on 2 April 2001 at euro-zone level of a voluntary pledge by traders’ representatives not to take
advantage of the changeover to the euro to bring in price rises by the back door and to do everything
possible to ensure that their prices remain stable overall when they are converted into euros. The
‘New currency, stable prices’. Transposal measures or similar
agreement
agreements have since been adopted in Spain, France and Italy. The euro-zone-wide agreement can also be
implemented without the need for national transposal measures. More generally, the Commission is closely
monitoring the issue of price stability and contributing to the discussions of the Eurogroup on the subject.

includes a shared slogan:

Coercive measures can only be used to penalise the violation of the conversion rules applicable throughout
the euro-zone in cases of dual pricing. Traders are and will remain free to determine their own prices. It
will be up to consumer associations to denounce any excessive discrepancies which may occur so that they
can be penalised by the market.

(2002/C 115 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187/01

by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Subject: Censorship at libraries

Books are the crucible of our history. They serve to prevent people forgetting the past, to develop cultural
diversity and to foster open-mindedness, all of which are good reasons for ensuring that everybody has
access to them. It is therefore important that libraries’ collections and the works they contain should be
varied. Complete impartiality and neutrality should be their hallmarks.