WRITTEN QUESTION E-2835/01 by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission. Poland's accession to the European Union.
Date: 2001-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Poland, Treaty of Nice, accession criteria, accession negotiations, accession to the European Union

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/119

It must be stressed that the report submitted by the authorities was of extremely high quality, was very
detailed and contained all the information needed to evaluate the scheme: species of trees selected,
reforestation plan, budget, maps, aerial photographs, list of species of birds in the area which will benefit
most, etc.

Under these circumstances, after informing the plaintiff of the foregoing, the Commission decided, on
18 July 2001, to file the matter. There is therefore no reason to suspend the Community support from the
Cohesion Fund for the Madrid-Figueres high-speed line.

The Commission has already taken measures to ensure compliance with the directives mentioned by the
Honourable Member throughout Spain in the parallel case initiated against Spain for non-designation or
incomplete designation of SPAs (case 99/2212).

(1) Complaint No 1999/5330.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 134 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2833/01

by Terence Wynn (PSE) to the Commission

(12 October 2001)

Subject: French tax provisions for foreign life insurance

Referring to the answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission to Written Question
E-1552/01 (1) (French tax provisions for foreign life insurance) = has the Commission decided whether or
not to issue a reasoned opinion under Article 226 (ex 169) of the EC Treaty? If not, why not? If it has
done so, what was the outcome?

(1) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001, p. 144.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2001)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it did in fact decide to send a reasoned
opinion under Article 226 (formerly Article 169) of the EC Treaty. It was sent to the French authorities on
25 July 2001. A press release on the subject was issued on 26 July 2001 (1).

The Commission asked the French authorities to amend the tax provisions concerned within two months
of receiving the reasoned opinion.

To date, the Commission has not been informed of any action taken by the French authorities in response
to the reasoned opinion. Consequently, the Commission will shortly decide on the follow-up to these
proceedings.

(1)

IP/01/1106.

(2002/C 134 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2835/01

by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Poland’s accession to the European Union

(12 October 2001)

The Financieele Dagblad of 27 September 2001 reported the following comments made by a senior
Commission official: ‘The enlargement without Poland would be the same as the introduction of the euro
without Germany’.

C 134 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Does the European Commission share my view that each country should be judged individually in the light
of the accession criteria originally laid down, and that Poland is no exception?

Does the European Commission likewise share my view that the accession of the other applicant countries
should not be delayed by any failure on Poland’s part to meet the criteria?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2001)

In its Enlargement Strategy Paper for 2000, the Commission reiterated its commitment to honouring the
historic promise of the 1993 Copenhagen European Council that ‘the countries in Central and Eastern
Europe that so desire shall become members of the Union. Accession will take place as soon as a country
is able to assume the obligations of membership by satisfying the economic and political conditions’.

The European Councils of Nice (7 to 9 December 2000) and Göteborg (15 and 16 June 2001) confirmed
this solemn commitment at the highest level, subscribing to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council
of 4 December 2000 on the principle of differentiation and allowing scope for catching up, with the best
prepared countries having the opportunity to progress more rapidly. The criteria laid down apply to all the
candidate countries including Poland.

The Göteborg European Council re-stated the Commission’s roadmap objective of concluding negotiations
by the end of 2002 with the countries that were ready so that they could participate in the 2004 elections
for the European Parliament as Member States. In view of their progress with accession preparations and
including Poland, have a real chance of concluding
internal planning, up to ten candidate countries,
negotiations by the end of 2002.

(2002/C 134 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2843/01

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Checks at airports

The recent serious terrorist attacks using aircraft as missiles piloted by the hijackers themselves have drawn
attention to security measures, especially as regards checks on passengers and baggage before embarkation.
For some time now this kind of check has been carried out mainly by private companies using unskilled
and poorly paid staff, with the police intervening only secondarily and on request. Does the Commission
intend to draw up new procedures to ensure that staff are more specialised and that those responsible for
airport security take on greater responsibility for the certification of the standards adopted and their
practical implementation?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 2001)

On 10 October 2001 the Commission adopted on a proposal for a regulation of the Parliament and the
Council on establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security. The incorporation of these
rules into Community law will enable them to be applied in an effective manner and this process will be
subject to continuous control by the Commission, using a ‘peer review’ inspection mechanism.

The common rules contained in the proposal are based on the current best practices in the Member States
and will aim at increased control of both international and domestic flights.