WRITTEN QUESTION E-2915/01 by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission. Public service declaration under Regulation (EC) 2408/92.
Date: 2001-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Balearic Islands, Spain, air transport, airline, competence of the Member States, inland transport, public service

C 115 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2910/01

by Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Price increases by mobile communications company Viag Interkom in conjunction with

conversion to euro

In converting to the euro, the mobile communications company, Viag Interkom AG, is rounding up its
prices to whole cents of a euro. This means that a ten-minute off-peak local call which cost 50 Pfennig
pre-conversion will cost 30 cents (59 Pfennig) post-conversion.

Is the Commission aware of similar cases of price increases as a result of the conversion to the single
currency?

Does the Commission take the view that it is not only appropriate but essential with small amounts to
round off to several decimal places, particularly when companies use amounts with decimals in their
advertising?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

The conversion rules set out in Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 on
certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro (1) apply to ‘monetary amounts to be paid or
accounted for’. Since telephone units are not caught by that definition, the increase from 50 pfennigs to
30 cents in Viag Interkom AG’s call units must be regarded as a pure price increase and not as an instance
of the conversion rules being applied. It is for the market to sanction abusive price increases.

With regard to the general problem of converting contracts based on small unitary amounts,
the
Commission shares the Honourable Member’s view and considers that as many decimal places as possible
should be retained after conversion: there is no obligation at European level to round off the result of the
conversion.

(1) OJ L 162, 19.6.1997.

(2002/C 115 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2915/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Public service declaration under Regulation (EC) 2408/92

For the inhabitants of the island of Minorca, air transport is not a luxury but a basic necessity.

Over the period 1996-2001 alone, the fare for residents (who qualify for a 33 % discount) for the route
Minorca-Palma has increased by 41,58 % (from ESP 12 000 to ESP 16 990).

EEC Regulation 2408/92 (1) states: ‘A Member State (…) may impose a public service obligation in respect
of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory or on a
thin route to any regional airport in its territory, any such route being considered vital for the economic
development of the region in which the airport is located’.

Nonetheless, under Article 103 of the 1997 Spanish Law on Administrative Fiscal Measures and Social
Order, it is for the Spanish national government to make public service declarations pursuant to the EEC
regulation cited above.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/193

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

In view of EEC Regulation 2408/92, does there exist any technical obstacle preventing the Spanish
government, should it consider it desirable, from making a public service declaration in respect of air
transport between the various Balearic Islands and between those islands and the Iberian peninsula?

2. Does the Commission consider it desirable to declare the above-mentioned routes to qualify for a
public service classification, given such existing EU precedents as the public service declaration
approved for air routes within the Canary Islands?

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2001)

As far as the Commission is aware, there is no obstacle preventing the Spanish authorities from invoking
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers
to intra-Community air routes (1).

In the case raised by the Honourable Member, a decision of this kind would be the responsibility of the
Spanish authorities, since the Commission simply has to check the correct application by the Member
States of the provisions of Article 4 of Regulation No 2408/92.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.

(2002/C 115 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2922/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Maritime safety

Amongst the EU’s proposals concerning transport safety is the Erika I package of measures, which includes
a proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation on the accelerated phasing-in of double hulls
for oil tankers, which is not in line with IMO rules.

The Commission has proposed going it alone and adopting the regulation in the event of it not being
possible to reach an agreement with the IMO.

Can the European Union adopt maritime safety rules which are inconsistent with those of the IMO?

Answer given by Mme de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

The Commission wishes to underline that the measures relating to single-hulled oil tankers are in line with
international law. To this end it points out that its original proposal, like the approach adopted by the
Council and Parliament, should be regarded as seeking to lay down a condition for entry into Member
States’ ports or waterways.

the Maríne Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of

As regards the follow-up to its original proposal, the Commission wishes to point out that, following a
decision of
the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO), the timetable for the withdrawal of single-hulled oil tankers has, broadly speaking,
been brought into line with that recommended by the Commission. Accordingly, and following the
opinion of Parliament, the Commission has amended its original proposal (1) to align it with the new IMO
rules.