WRITTEN QUESTION E-0404/02 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Roberta Angelilli (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN),Roberto Bigliardo (UEN), Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN), Antonio Mussa (UEN),Mauro Nobilia (UEN), Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Franz Turchi (UEN)and Mariotto Segni (UEN) to the Commission. Italian citizens with Belgian pensions.
Date: 2002-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, Italy, approximation of laws, equal treatment, payment, pension scheme

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/193

social governance in the context of globalisation (1)’ indeed presented a comprehensive strategy for the
promotion of core labour standards in the context of globalisation. The strategy suggests action at
international and European levels,
in all external relations as well as in the International Labour
Organisations to ensure the application of core labour standards.

With respect to trade policy, the Communication suggests an incentitative approach by a strengthening of
the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) social incentive scheme. The Council adopted the revised GSP
scheme in December 2001 and has thus confirmed this approach.

As regards prison labour more specifically, the Honourable Member rightly pointed to the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Article XX, which allows for trade measures to be taken against prison
labour. China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in fact provides greater transparency in
trade practices related to prison labour. The Commission will monitor the situation in China in the light of
WTO provisions and will take action as appropriate.

(1) COM(2001) 416 final.

(2002/C 172 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0404/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Roberta Angelilli (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN),
Roberto Bigliardo (UEN), Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN), Antonio Mussa (UEN),
Mauro Nobilia (UEN), Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Franz Turchi (UEN)
and Mariotto Segni (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Italian citizens with Belgian pensions

(21 February 2002)

Italian citizens who have worked in Belgian and have returned Italy with an invalidity and/or retirement
pension awarded by the Belgian authorities have to face long delays and go through lengthy formalities
before they receive their cheques.

The Belgian bank responsible for payments sends a bank transfer to the Italian central post office in Rome.

From Rome, the post office cheques are then sent to various localities throughout Italy, resulting in
significant delays in payments and increasing the risk of pensioners being robbed when they have to
collect their money from the post office.

Will the Commission:

: ensure that Italian pensioners are treated in the same way as pensioners from Portugal, France, the
Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and even Morocco, by allowing them to receive their pension
payments directly from the Belgian bank concerned;

: intervene without delay to ensure the equal treatment of all European pensioners, thus preventing

discrimination against Italian citizens?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

The Commission would like to remind the Honourable Members that, according to the provisions of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 (1), social security benefits are paid to beneficiaries either directly or
through a liaison body. Annex 6 to this Regulation mentions the procedure for payment of allowances
chosen by the institutions responsible for payment in each Member State. Belgium opted for direct
payment of allowances.

However, this Regulation does not specify what form the direct payment should take, which means that it
can be paid by money order.

C 172 E/194

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Nevertheless, given the disadvantages arising from payment of pensions by money order, the Commission
is prepared to intervene to ensure that the Belgian authorities take measures to allow pensions to be paid
into bank accounts in Italy.

(1) Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 of the Council of 21 March 1972 fixing the procedure for implementing Regulation
(EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving
within the Community, OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, as amended and updated by Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of
2 December 1996, OJ L 28, 30.1.1997.

(2002/C 172 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/02

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Interruption of the public service provided by international bus companies

On 25 January 2002, in Esslingen in Germany, the Esslingen road police carried out checks on a coach
belonging to the Simet s.p.a. company which was in service on the San Giovanni in Fiore to Hamburg line.

Following these checks, Simet was issued with a fine of EUR 525, on the grounds that it was not in
possession of the requisite documentation (certified copy of polymetric authorisation No 4, timetable
sheet, records of driving times and Community licence No 965) translated into German, even though the
documents were in order under the legislation in force in Italy.

The Simet coach was held from 9 a.m. until 3.45 p.m., seriously inconveniencing the passengers on board,
and it was ordered to return to Italy.

The Italian Ministry of Transport was asked to intervene, and informed its German counterpart that Simet
was fully authorised under the law to move freely. Despite the clarifications provided by the German
ministry, the police did not allow the coach to leave, but continued to request the authorisation in
German. In view of this, does the Commission not consider that these events are in breach of Regulation
684/92 (1) on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus?

(1) OJ L 74, 20.3.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

The incident referred to by the Honourable Member relates to the international carriage of passengers by
coach or bus, more specifically in the context of regular services.

Under Community legislation governing the operation of regular services, two documents must be carried
on the vehicle: the licence issued under Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 (1) on common rules for the
international carriage of passengers by coach and bus, and the Community licence issued under Regulation
(EC) No 11/98 (1).

Regulation (EC) No 2121/98 (2) stipulates that the text of the licence to operate regular services between
Member States should be worded in the official language(s) or one of the official languages of the carrier’s
Member State of establishment.

Regulation (EC) No 11/98 likewise stipulates that the text of the Community licence should be worded in
the official language(s) or one of the official languages of the Member State issuing the licence.