WRITTEN QUESTION E-0767/02 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission. Financing by the Netherlands Government of participation in the Joint Strike Fighter programme.
Date: 2002-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Economic and Monetary Union, Netherlands, borrowing, financing, national accounts, regional accounting

C 277 E/84

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

In view of all this, can the Commission say whether it really intends to propose harmonisation or whether,
because of the special nature of the product (a staple product of great cultural value) and because there are
at present no excise duties on it in some EU countries, it would be better to maintain the status quo or else
propose the abolition of excise duty on wine throughout the Community?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2002)

Council Directive 92/84/EEC, of 19 October 1992, deals with the approximation of rates of excise duty on
alcohol and alcoholic beverages (1). Under its provisions it is necessary for the excise duty rates laid down
in that Directive to be reviewed periodically by Council. This review shall be based upon a Commission
report taking into account all relevant issues, especially the proper functioning of the internal market,
competition between the different categories of alcoholic drinks, the real value of the rates of duty and the
wider objectives of the EC Treaty.

At this stage it can only be confirmed that the Commission is preparing a report, which is likely to be
accompanied by a proposal for a Council Directive.

The Commission has not yet taken a decision on the report and proposal in question and is not yet in a
position to comment on their possible contents. However, the Commission report will take into account
all relevant issues.

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.

(2002/C 277 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0767/02

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 2002)

Subject: Financing by the Netherlands Government of participation in the Joint Strike Fighter programme

On 8 February 2002, the Netherlands Government decided to enable Dutch industry to participate in the
further development and building (system development and demonstration phase) of the Joint Strike
Fighter (JSF). In a letter of 11 February 2002 to the Lower House of Parliament, the Government enlarged
upon this decision.

The total cost of participation (€ 857,5 million) is partly to be met by means of contributions from the
government (€ 400,7 million from the defence budget, € 60,1 million + 42 million from the Ministry of
Economic Affairs) and industry (€ 55,0 million).

The remainder of the money is to be found by means of loans of approximately € 100 million per annum
from the EMU balance in 2003, 2004 and 2005, which are not considered to be of any relevance to
budgetary discipline.

It was stated in the newspaper NRC Handelsblad on 28 February 2002 that the method of financing
proposed by the Netherlands Government may violate European rules.

Does the Commission agree with the Netherlands Government’s view that

1.
the loan totalling
approximately € 300 million from the EMU balance in 2003, 2004 and 2005 is irrelevant to the rules
concerning European budgetary discipline, or does it reject this analysis?

2.
Are the Netherlands Government’s proposals for participation in the JSF programme as described in
its letter of 11 February 2002 to the Lower House of Parliament acceptable under European law on State
aid?

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/85

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2002)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and
1.
regional accounts in the Community (1) defines the rules for the proper classification in the national
accounts of measures such as the loans in question. They are classified as financial transactions. Eurostat
may ask the Member State involved to clarify the way certain items in the past year’s budget have been
classified. Until now, Eurostat has not conducted such an assessment with respect to the Dutch JSF project.

2.
The Commission has not assessed the compatibility with the State aid rules of the measures in
question. It must be pointed out that under certain conditions Article 296 of the EC-Treaty allows Member
States to take such measures as they consider necessary for the protection of the essential interests of their
security which are connected with the production of arms, munitions and war material.

(1) OJ L 310, 30.11.1996.

(2002/C 277 E/091)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0769/02

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 March 2002)

Subject: Pindos national park

The northern Pindos is one of the areas which the Greek authorities have put forward for inclusion in the
Natura 2000 network. Community finance has been made available for this area, through the operational
programme for the environment under the 2nd CSF; in order to draw up a management plan with a view
to the designation of the area as a national park. However, none of the procedures provided for under
Greek law, such as the issuing of a presidential decree and the formation of a managerial body, have as yet
been initiated.

What measures will the Commission take to ensure that the Community funds granted for these studies
are used effectively?

Can Community funds be provided to set up the necessary infrastructure for the subsequent operation of
the national parks?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2002)

The Pindos National Forest Management project was part-financed under the Environment Operational
Programme of the Greek Community support framework for the 1994-1999 programming period. We are
informed by the Greek authorities that the budget of some € 813 000 allocated to the project was all spent
by the final date of eligibility for expenditure set for that period, i.e. 31 December 2001.

In line with Article 21(4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1998 (1) as amended
by Regulation 2082/93 (2) the Commission awaits the Member States’ transmission by 30 June 2002 of
final declarations of expenditure and final programme execution reports.
In that context the Greek
authorities will have to certify that the conditions set in the decision granting aid have been duly respected.

The Commission has already drawn the Greek authorities’ attention to the need to accelerate the necessary
procedures for implementing management plans part-financed by the Structural Funds or the LIFE
programme for Natura 2000 network sites and so securing their protection. We were informed by the
authorities that the Pindos management plan should be approved at the end of the first quarter of 2002,
the Presidential Decree designating the zone being scheduled for the fourth quarter.