WRITTEN QUESTION E-2260/01 by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Local authorities on the Union's external borders not consulted by the Commission in preparing its communication.
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, European Union, competitiveness, enlargement of the Union, external border of the EU, local authority

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/91

sustainable and secure energy supplies for the whole of an enlarged Union. Security of supply in more
remote areas will be an important aspect of such a strategy. The Green Paper confirms the essential
importance of the Northern Dimension in regard to the Union’s energy supplies and invites all interested
partners to contribute to the debate; the outcome of this process will undoubtedly influence future
activities in the Northern Dimension energy area.

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.
(2) OJ C 139, 6.5.1997.
(3) COM(2001) 445 final.
(4) http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/gas_single_market/index_en.html.
(5) http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/en/elec_single_market/index_en.html.

(2002/C 93 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2260/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Local authorities on the Union’s external borders not consulted by the Commission in preparing

its communication

In the conclusions of the Nice summit the Commission was called upon to propose a programme for the
EU’s frontier regions in order to strengthen their economic competitiveness. The Commission has in fact
prepared a communication in which it considers the effects of enlargement in these areas and sets out its
proposals. The communication is expected to be published in July, and to contain the following elements:
in particular sectors; assessment of existing
situation of border areas and effects of enlargement
Community instruments; proposals for Community actions in border areas (basic structural investment in
the context of the Trans-European Networks, EIB loans, support for SMEs and in particular cross-border
cooperation,
improving coordination between Phare/cross-border cooperation and Interreg, enhancing
information, improving exploitation of training programmes, and the creation of a border areas task force
within the Commission). The proposals will only be submitted for discussion to the Council when the
relevant Member States’ reactions have been heard.

This is an important programme which will affect the municipalities on the Union’s external borders
closely. In spite of this, their opinions were not heard during the preparation of the programme.

Why did the Commission fail to carry out consultation at local level when preparing this programme?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 September 2001)

On 25 July 2001, the Commission adopted a Communication on the impact of enlargement on the border
regions adjacent to candidate countries including a Community Action for Border Regions (1).

The Communication is based on thorough analysis of border regions covering three main areas:

? the socio-economic situation of border regions and the likely effects of enlargement;

? existing Community support to border regions;

? possible measures to strengthen the competitiveness of border regions.

C 93 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Within the limits of the financial perspective until 2006, as agreed by the Berlin European Council (24-
25 March 1999), the Commission’s Communication focuses on the improvement and enhancement of
existing Community policies.

In drawing up the Community Action for Border Regions, the Commission took due account of detailed
information on the requirements of border regions provided by the chambers of commerce of the relevant
regions as well as by individual Member States concerned. In addition, the Commission took account of
the views of local and regional authorities set out in various documents and expressed in the course of
bilateral discussions with representatives of the border regions.

(1) COM(2001) 437 final.

(2002/C 93 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2261/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Harmonisation of energy taxation proposed in the Green Paper on Security of Energy Supply

The Commission’s Green Paper entitled ‘Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply’ (1)
represents a significant strategic gambit in the debate on the development of energy supply in the coming
years and decades. It follows in detail developments in the energy field from the point of view of energy
sufficiency, of access to energy supplies and of the environment. It also discusses the development of
energy taxation together with its fiscal objectives and its effects on regulating behaviour.

The Green Paper shows how much tax was paid on energy production and transport costs in 1997.
According to my information, energy taxation has risen since 1997, especially in Finland.

According to the Green Paper, energy taxation is an effective tool for regulating energy use. For this reason
it is proposed that a sufficiently high level of taxation should be adopted in the energy sector. But what is
‘sufficiently high’ and what does it mean in practice? The harmonisation of Community taxation is
regarded as an essential instrument from the point of view of competition, to prevent distortions in the
energy sector.

How can the proposed harmonisation of energy taxation be used to ensure that the northern

1.
Member States are not forced into a less favourable position with regard to energy taxation?

How can the renewal of industry and energy production and the development potential essential for

2.
the environment be achieved when increasing taxation weakens competitiveness?

3.

How can the competitiveness of EU industry be protected in relation to third countries?

(1) COM(2000) 769.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2001)

In 1997 the Commission proposed a Council Directive restructuring the Community framework for the
taxation of energy products (1). The proposed Directive would lay down the rates of excise duty applicable
to energy products, to be increased in three stages.