WRITTEN QUESTION E-2179/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Discrimination against two-wheel motor vehicles in Greece.
Date: 2001-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, approximation of laws, tax, tax harmonisation, two-wheeled vehicle, vehicle tax

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/9

(2002/C 160 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2179/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Discrimination against two-wheel motor vehicles in Greece

(23 July 2001)

In Greece the Highway Code fails to distinguish between the various categories of vehicle although they
should be treated differently depending on their technical characteristics, namely size and weight.

An example of the ensuing discrimination is the latest increase in taxation which is approximately 10 %
for cars but 30 % for two-wheel motor vehicles. Furthermore, the road use taxes for two-wheel motor
vehicles are the same as for cars which weigh five times more, while protective gear - such as helmets -
is subject to 18 % VAT. Will the Commission say whether, as part of tax harmonisation in the EU, it will
take measures to address the unfair treatment of two-wheel motor vehicles?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2001)

As the Honourable Member is aware, with the exception of common rules applying on annual taxes and
charges for heavy goods vehicles, there is little Community legislation, or harmonisation of national fiscal
provisions, applied by the Member States in the area of vehicle taxation,
including two wheel motor
vehicles.

The standard VAT rates provided for by Community legislation are currently applied in Greece on both
passenger cars, and two wheel motor vehicles. Therefore, there is no discrimination or any need for further
tax harmonisation in this area as both means of transport are subject to the same rate of 18 %.

As regards registration and annual circulation taxes charged on two wheel motor vehicles in Greece, and
their relation to the level of the same taxes imposed to passenger cars, the Commission should point out
that at present there is no Community legislation, or harmonisation of national fiscal provisions in
application by the Member States. It is for each Member State to establish and apply national legislation
provided that they respect the general provisions of the EC Treaty.

(2002/C 160 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2298/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE)
and Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Appointment of new Director for Directorate D in DG External Relations

One of the declared priorities of the Commission’s reform is that of ensuring that promotions are done on
the basis of competence and not on the basis of nationality, political affiliation or any other ‘casual’
combination. This concept is reiterated in the Infonote No 9/2001 of the DG External Relations, adopted
on 3 July 2001.

It would therefore be important to know what is the precise reason why the Commission made a notable
exception to this principle when appointing the new Director for Directorate D in DG External Relations,
Mr. Reinhard Priebe. In the ‘Inside DG External Relations’ Issue of April, May, June 2001 there is an
interesting interview of M. Priebe in which, with disarming sincerity, he admits to never having worked in
the area of external relations before, and that it is ‘by chance’ that he moved to the Western Balkans
Directorate.