WRITTEN QUESTION P-0271/02 by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Preparation for the European Council meeting in Barcelona.
Date: 2002-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law - national law, European Council, France, Germany, United Kingdom, national implementing measure, simplification of legislation

C 28 E/20

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

6 December 2001. Estimates would depend on interest rate assumptions, which the Commission has
decided not to publish on a regular basis as the European Central Bank (ECB) has full responsibility for
setting interest rates in the euro area. Estimates would also depend on the forecast of the development of
the monetary base in the euro area in the year 2002, which appears to be difficult to provide given
extraordinary circumstances (e.g. euro cash changeover, dual currency period). Future shifts in the patterns
of cash holdings and possible non-surrender of notes and coins in the original national currencies will also
have an impact on the balance sheets of central banks (notes) and governments (coins). At present the
scale of such impacts and the timing of their recognition in balance sheets are not clear.

The Commission respects the position of the Member States that have not adopted the euro so far and
regards it as inappropriate to investigate or publish hypothetical scenarios what might have happened or
what would have happened if these Member States would have made other decisions.

For the aforementioned reasons the Commission is not in a position to provide estimates of monetary
income accruing to each Member State based on the adjustment scheme agreed upon in December 2001
for the current euro area Member States.

2.

The aforementioned position applies to expressions in other terms as well.

(2003/C 28 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0271/02

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2002)

Subject: Preparation for the European Council meeting in Barcelona

The 2000 Lisbon European Council asked ‘the Commission, the Council and the Member States, each in
accordance with their respective powers, to set out by 2001 a strategy for further coordinated action to
simplify the regulatory environment, including the performance of public administration, at both national
and Community level.’ Could the Commission give some specific examples of how this goal has been met
in the UK, France and Germany?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2002)

The Honourable Member wishes to have examples of measures taken by Germany, France and the United
Kingdom in response to the request made by the Lisbon European Council on 23 and 24 March 2000 that
the Commission, the Council and the Member States draw up a coordinated strategy to simplify the
regulatory environment.

The Commission can provide the following information at this time:

(cid:1) under this coordinated strategy, the Member States do indeed take much of the responsibility, since

90 % of the legislation is national,

(cid:1) in the Community legislative process, Member States’ responsibility is exercised especially in the
negotiations within the Council, and then more directly in the transposition and implementation of
the Community legislation,

6.2.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(cid:1) in this context it should be pointed out that Germany, France and the United Kingdom have, along
with the other Member States, taken part in the High-level Group (‘Mandelkern Group’) set up in
November 2000 to look into this matter. In November 2001 the Group issued an important and
high-quality report which was annexed to the conclusions of the Laeken European Council of 14 and
15 December 2001. The Member States give a number of undertakings for rationalising the legislative
process and improving the transposition and application of Community instruments.

At the same time all the Member States gave an undertaking at Lisbon to raise their transposition rates to
at least 98,5 % by the time of the Barcelona European Council in March 2002. While the scoreboard
shows that some progress has been made, the rates of non-transposition for Germany, France and the
United Kingdom in October 2001 were 2,6 %, 2,8 % and 3 % respectively.

The Honourable Member will find more information in the Commission’s report of 6 February 2002 on
implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/
enterprise_policy/charter/charter2002.htm.

(2003/C 28 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0290/02

by Christoph Konrad (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2002)

Subject: Systematic breach of equal treatment of foreign bus companies in France caused by the ‘blue

licence’ and heavy fines

1.
How does the Commission view the fact that it is compulsory for German bus companies to carry a
special permit known as the ‘blue licence’ when travelling in France, whereas French bus companies are
not required to carry a special permit when travelling either in France or Germany? What
is the
Commission’s reaction to this breach of the principle of equal treatment?

Does the Commission accept the current practice whereby the French police take buses off the road
2.
if they do not have a ‘blue licence’ or if their licence has expired? Furthermore, what is the Commission’s
view, in the light of the principle of proportionality and the prohibition of disproportionate measures, of
the fact that a German bus, whose four-year licence had expired by nine days was allowed to continue its
journey only after payment of 5 000 FF?

How does the Commission view the fact that following this payment, the bus company concerned

3.
has a court case pending, the outcome of which will probably be a fine amounting to the same sum?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2002)

The ‘blue licence’ the Honourable Member is referring to is the Community licence (1) which entitles the
holder to carry out international road transport operations by coach or bus for hire or reward by any
route, for journeys within the territory of the Community. It is called a ‘blue’ licence because the original
copy of the licence has to be on a blue card. The obligation to hold a Community licence applies to all
Community carriers. There is therefore no discrimination on grounds of nationality.

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 11/98 of 11 December 1997, the original of the licence
must be kept by the carrier. A certified true copy of the Community licence must be kept in the vehicle
and must be produced at the request of any authorised inspecting officer.

EU law is infringed if the certified copy of the Community licence is not in the vehicle or if the licence has
expired.