do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3681/01 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Bank charges for cheques in euros.
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: bank charges, cheque, euro, euro area

C 161 E/2

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

(2003/C 161 E/002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3681/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 January 2002)

Subject: Bank charges for cheques in euros

Given that we now have a common currency for 12 Member States, what measures does the Commission
intend to take to prevent excessive clearance charges by banks for cheques used within the Eurozone
which emanate from Eurozone Member States?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001 of 19 December 2001 on cross-border payments
in euros lays down the principle of equal charges for strictly domestic payments in euros and for cross-
border payments in euros. The principle applies to card payments and withdrawals from automated teller
machines as from 1 July 2002 and to transfers as from 1 July 2003.

The Commission had initially proposed that this provision should apply also to cross-border payments by
cheque. Parliament and the Council decided not to take up its proposal.

The two main arguments put forward were:

(cid:1) cheques, as a domestic means of payment, are in the process of disappearing in several Member States;

(cid:1) cheques are not suited to being an automatic cross-border means of payment.

The explanation is given in recital 8 to the Regulation, which reads:

At present, it is not advisable to apply the principle of uniform charges for paper cheques as by nature
they cannot be processed as efficiently as the other means of payment,
in particular electronic
payments. However, the principle of transparent charges should also apply to cheques.

The principle of aligning charges laid down in Article 3 does not, therefore, apply to cheques. However,
Article 4, which concerns the information to be provided to customers on the cost of using different
means of payment, has been applicable since 1 January 2002. A specific measure for cheques is to be
found in the second subparagraph of Article 4(1):

Member States may stipulate that a statement warning consumers of the charges relating to the cross-
border use of cheques must appear on cheque books.

Accordingly, under Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001, banks that agree to the cross-border use of cheques (1)
must inform their customers of the charges for such operations.

(1) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.

(2003/C 161 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0212/02

by Bruno Gollnisch (NI) to the Commission

(30 January 2002)

Subject: Persistence of exchange rates within the euro Union

It is now two years since the official introduction of the euro in the form of cheques and postal orders,
and one month since the introduction of euro notes and coins throughout the Union. All exchange rate
charges between banks within the euro zone should have disappeared, but the fact is this is simply not so.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.2701 — Vattenfall/Bewag) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Commission, application of EU law, economic concentration, electrical industry, exchange of information, merger control

16.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 12/5

Adoption of eight reference documents for the purpose of Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning
integrated pollution prevention and control (1)

(2002/C 12/04)

On 21 December 2001, the Commission adopted the complete texts of the reference documents on best
available techniques in:

(cid:151) production of iron and steel,

(cid:151) cement and lime manufacturing industries,

(cid:151) non-ferrous metals industries,

(cid:151) pulp and paper industry,

(cid:151) glass manufacturing industry,

(cid:151) ferrous metals processing industry,

(cid:151) chlor-alkali manufacturing industry,

(cid:151) industrial cooling systems.

These documents are available on the Internet site http://eippcb.jrc.es.

(1) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.2701 (cid:151) Vattenfall/Bewag)

(2002/C 12/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 3 January 2002 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2),
by which the Swedish undertaking Vattenfall AB (Vattenfall) acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b)
of the Regulation, control of the whole of the German undertaking Berliner Kraft- und Licht Aktienge-
sellschaft (Bewag) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

(cid:151) Vattenfall: generation, transport and supply of electricity mainly in the Nordic countries and Germany;

generation of heat; trading activities in electricity, natural gas and heat,

(cid:151) Bewag: generation, transport and supply of electricity in Germany, generation of district heat; trading

activities in electricity.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within

3.
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.2701 (cid:151) Vattenfall/Bewag, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Directorate B (cid:151) Merger Task Force,
J-70,
B-1049 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, exchange rate, national currency, third country

16.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 12/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

15 January 2002

(2002/C 12/01)

1 euro

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

7,4337

Danish krone

9,2287

Swedish krona

0,6165

Pound sterling

0,8922

United States dollar

1,4209

Canadian dollar

116,97

Japanese yen

1,4791

Swiss franc

7,9495

Norwegian krone

91,5

Icelandic kr(cid:243)na (2)

1,7196

Australian dollar

2,1105

New Zealand dollar

10,3584

South African rand (2)

(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
(2) Source: Commission.
2002/35/EC: Commission Decision of 16 January 2002 amending Decision 2001/783/EC as regards the protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue in Italy (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 26)
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU control, Italy, animal disease, disease prevention, sheep, transport of animals

17.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 15/31

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 16 January 2002

amending Decision 2001/783/EC as regards the protection and surveillance zones in relation to
bluetongue in Italy

(notified under document number C(2002) 26)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/35/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Annex I A to Decision 2001/783/EC the following Italian
provinces are deleted: Bari, Foggia, Avellino, Benevento and
Caserta.

Article 2

Member States shall amend the measures they apply to trade so
as to bring them into compliance with this Decision.

They shall

immediately inform the Commission thereof.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 16 January 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/75/EC of 20
November 2000 laying down specific provisions for
the
control and eradication of bluetongue (1), and in particular
Article 8(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Following the evolution of the bluetongue situation in
four Member States in 2001, Commission Decision
2001/783/EC of 9 November 2001 on protection and
surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and on rules
applicable to movements of animals in and from those
to Directive 2000/
zones (2) was adopted pursuant
75/EC.

It is clear from the results of the epidemiological survey
implemented by the Italian authorities that no virus
circulation has taken place in some regions which can
be considered as free of the disease.

As a result, those free regions may be deleted from the
list of the regions included in the protection and surveil-
lance zone established in Annex I to Decision 2001/
783/EC.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(2) OJ L 293, 10.11.2001, p. 42.
2002/36/EC: Commission Decision of 16 January 2002 amending Decision 93/693/EC as regards the list of semen collection centres approved for the export to the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species from third countries (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 27)
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Romania, animal breeding, artificial insemination, cattle, originating product, third country

L 15/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17.1.2002

COMMISSION DECISION

of 16 January 2002

amending Decision 93/693/EC as regards the list of semen collection centres approved for the
export to the Community of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species from third countries

(notified under document number C(2002) 27)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/36/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 88/407/EEC of 14 June 1988 laying down the animal health require-
ments applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the bovine
species (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular
Article 9(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

in Commission Decision 90/14/EEC (2), as last amended by Decision
Romania is on the list
94/453/EC (3), of third countries from which Member States authorise the import of bovine semen.

The competent veterinary services of Romania have forwarded a request for one addition to the list,
established by Commission Decision 93/693/EC (4), as last amended by Decision 2001/726/EC (5), of
semen collection centres officially approved for the export from Romania to the Community of
semen of domestic animals of the bovine species.

Guarantees regarding compliance with the requirements specified in Article 9(3)(b), (d) and (e) of
Directive 88/407/EEC have been received by the Commission from Romania and the centre has been
officially approved for exports to the Community by the competent authorities.

Decision 93/693/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing
Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In the Annex to Decision 93/693/EC, the following line is added after the lines concerning Poland:

CRB O1

S.C. SEMTEST-BVN
Târgu Mures
4328 Sângeorgiu de Mures
Str Tofalau, nr 667

RO

RUMANIA/
RUMÆNIEN/
RUMÄNIEN/
ΡΟΥΜΑΝΙΑΣ/
ROMANIA/
ROUMANIE/
ROMANIA/
ROEMENIË/
ROMÉNIA/
ROMANIAN/
RUMÄNIEN

(1) OJ L 194, 22.7.1988, p. 10.
(2) OJ L 8, 11.1.1990, p. 71.
(3) OJ L 187, 22.7.1994, p. 11.
(4) OJ L 320, 22.12.1993, p. 35.
(5) OJ L 273, 16.10.2001, p. 21.

17.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 15/33

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 16 January 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission
Adoption of eight reference documents for the purpose of Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Internet, access to information, industrial enterprise, industrial pollution, pollution control measures, prevention of pollution

16.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 12/5

Adoption of eight reference documents for the purpose of Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning
integrated pollution prevention and control (1)

(2002/C 12/04)

On 21 December 2001, the Commission adopted the complete texts of the reference documents on best
available techniques in:

(cid:151) production of iron and steel,

(cid:151) cement and lime manufacturing industries,

(cid:151) non-ferrous metals industries,

(cid:151) pulp and paper industry,

(cid:151) glass manufacturing industry,

(cid:151) ferrous metals processing industry,

(cid:151) chlor-alkali manufacturing industry,

(cid:151) industrial cooling systems.

These documents are available on the Internet site http://eippcb.jrc.es.

(1) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.2701 (cid:151) Vattenfall/Bewag)

(2002/C 12/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 3 January 2002 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to
Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97 (2),
by which the Swedish undertaking Vattenfall AB (Vattenfall) acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b)
of the Regulation, control of the whole of the German undertaking Berliner Kraft- und Licht Aktienge-
sellschaft (Bewag) by way of purchase of shares.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

(cid:151) Vattenfall: generation, transport and supply of electricity mainly in the Nordic countries and Germany;

generation of heat; trading activities in electricity, natural gas and heat,

(cid:151) Bewag: generation, transport and supply of electricity in Germany, generation of district heat; trading

activities in electricity.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within

3.
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.2701 (cid:151) Vattenfall/Bewag, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Directorate B (cid:151) Merger Task Force,
J-70,
B-1049 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2002 of 16 January 2002 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, pip fruit

17.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 15/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 70/2002

of 16 January 2002

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

In compliance with the above criteria,
the standard
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
last
import arrangements
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1498/98 (2), and in particular
Article 4(1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
standard values for imports from third countries,
in
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto.

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 17 January 2002.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 January 2002.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 198, 15.7.1998, p. 4.

L 15/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17.1.2002

to the Commission Regulation of 16 January 2002 establishing the standard import values for determining the
entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 20 10

0805 20 30, 0805 20 50, 0805 20 70,
0805 20 90

0805 50 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

0808 20 50

Third country
code (1)

Standard import
value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
204
212
624
999
052
220
628
999
052
204
220
999
052
204
212
220
508
999
052
204
999

052
204
464
624
999
052
600
999
060
400
404
720
728
999
400
512
720
999

58,8
120,0
110,5
74,0
90,8
137,0
249,0
242,2
209,4
209,1
283,6
212,2
235,0
55,9
58,4
47,0
48,4
13,4
44,6
58,3
105,1
81,7

53,5
85,3
72,0
78,2
72,3
54,3
48,4
51,3
41,6
112,8
96,8
113,0
105,5
93,9
122,7
64,6
88,1
91,8

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2020/2001 (OJ L 273, 16.10.2001, p. 6). Code ‘999’ stands for ‘of

other origin’.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on:the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 on the protection of the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution, andthe Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 on protection of the Community's forests against fire
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: air quality, environmental protection, fire protection, forest

3.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 80/45

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on:

— the ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending
Council Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 on the protection of the Community’s forests against
atmospheric pollution’, and

— the ‘Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 on protection of the Community’s forests against fire’

(2002/C 80/10)

On 20 December 2001 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 175 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposals.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Kallio as rapporteur-general for its opinion.

At its 387th plenary session, held on 16 and 17 January 2002 (meeting of 16 January), the Economic
and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by a unanimous vote.

1. General comments

Given that in previous opinions (1997 (1) and 1999 (2))
1.1.
the Economic and Social Committee recommended that the
validity of the regulations in question be prolonged, it now
also supports the request to extend for a further year these two
important forestry sector measures.

The ESC refers again in this connection to its 1999
1.2.
opinion with respect to the substance of the measures. It does
not wish at this stage to present further comments on the
substance of the measures, but will await the Commission’s
new revision proposals, which were supposed to be presented
at the end of the year 2001.

The Committee refers in this regard to the EU
1.3.
forestry
in
by
1998 (3), which calls for clarifications, e.g. on forest fire
monitoring systems.

the Commission

presented

strategy

2. Conclusion

The ESC stresses emphatically that the revision proposals for
both regulations should be introduced without delay. Realising
sustainable development in EU forestry legislation requires
that the regulations in question be extended and revised
without delay to reflect
the current situation. Here the
Committee refers in particular to point 2.4 of its 1999 opinion
and some of the basic requirements mentioned there.

(1) OJ C 66, 3.3.1997.
(2) OJ C 51, 23.2.2000.

(3) COM(98) 649, 3.11.1998.

Brussels, 16 January 2002.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Göke FRERICHS