WRITTEN QUESTION E-0847/02 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Airport taxes.
Date: 2002-03-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: airport, application of EU law, charges for use of infrastructure, competence of the Member States, fiscal policy, freedom to provide services

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/95

Within this framework, the Commission supports initiatives in the cultural area, including the protection,
preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage, under the ‘Culture 2000’ framework programme and
in accordance with its selection criteria,
this programme being the Union’s single financing and
programming instrument for cultural cooperation for 2000-2004. The Community does not have the
power to take measures to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Member States or of eligible non-
Community countries (three countries from the European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association
(EEA/EFTA) and the countries of central and eastern Europe, whose association councils have decided to
take part in the programme) other than under the existing programmes and initiatives. It is also important
to note that,
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, protection schemes are the exclusive
responsibility of the Member States. The Honourable Member can find additional information on the web
site http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_en.html.

Subject to joint financial contributions and compliance with the rules specific to each institution or
organisation, the ‘Culture 2000’ programme can also accommodate joint measures involving international
organisations with responsibilities in the cultural sector, such as Unesco and the Council of Europe, for
cultural measures and cultural events within the scope of the programme. These joint measures, such as
the European Heritage Days, are based on an exchange of letters between the Commission, the Council of
Europe and Unesco (1).

As regards the European Science Foundation,
Icomos and the other institutions and organisations
mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission supports cooperation initiatives in the cultural
sector 3 including those for the protection, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage 3 under
the ‘Culture 2000’ programme and in accordance with its selection criteria. In this regard, the Commission
would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that a call for proposals for projects to be held
in 2003 will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities during the second quarter
of 2002.

The Commission would also point out that, under the ‘Culture 2000’ programme, priority will be given to
cultural heritage in the call for proposals for 2004.
In this context, cultural heritage will comprise
moveable heritage, intangible heritage, historical archives and libraries, archaeology, underwater heritage,
cultural sites and landscapes.

In the fifth framework programme for research and technological development (1998-2002), support has
been provided, under the key action ‘The city of tomorrow and cultural heritage’, for research projects
which seek to preserve, protect and improve Europe’s cultural heritage.
Information on the projects
supported by the Commission can be found on the web site http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/ka4/library.htm

As regards the links between the European institutions and activities carried out at national level and with
international organisations, the draft 6th framework programme (2002-2006) 3 and more particularly the
special programme within it entitled ‘Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area’ 3 makes
provision for supporting cooperation and the coordination of research activities carried out at national and
regional levels: participants can thus comprise national entities, such as research bodies in the public and
private sectors, and other institutions operating on a European level, like the European Science Foundation.

(1) Cooperation between Unesco and the European Commission is based on an initial exchange of letters in September
in February 1996, of an

1964, supplemented by another exchange in December 1972 and by the signing,
agreement on the methods of cooperation between the European Commission and UNESCO.

(2002/C 277 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0847/02

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Airport taxes

What measures is the Commission prepared to take, at a time when the airline industry is being severely
streamlined, in order to ensure that a fairer system of taxation is implemented and that double/triple
taxation on journeys through a single airport is brought rapidly to an end?

C 277 E/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

A passenger who buys an airline ticket and travels from Dublin to London Heathrow and from London
Heathrow to Belgrade before returning from Belgrade to London Heathrow and then flying from London
Heathrow to Amsterdam will find that, as a result of the current system of airport taxes, each ticket
included an additional cost of GBP 27,50. In other words, the tax is paid three times by the same
passenger for what is essentially a round trip.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2002)

Airport taxes have to be distinguished from airport charges. The latter, such as passenger charges and
landing charges are a source of revenue for the airport and are meant to cover the costs for the airport
operations.

Airport or environmental taxes on the other hand, are imposed by the national authorities and do not
represent revenue for the airport but are ususally collected by the airport on behalf of the Treasury. As a
result, the level of such taxes and the conditions on the basis of which these taxes have to be paid are part
of the taxation policy of each Member State. However, such tax provisions have to comply with the
general principles of the EC Treaty concerning the freedom to provide services and in particular the
principles of non-discrimination and proportionality.

The Commission wishes to add here that generally, when an airline ticket consists of a number of coupons
(as it is the case for a trip like Dublin 3 London 3 Belgrade 3 London 3 Amsterdam), each coupon
mentions the same amount of airport taxes and charges, which represent the taxes and charges to be paid
for the entire journey and not for each leg of the trip. It is likely therefore, that the taxes and charges
reported by the Honourable Member of GBP 27,50 were due for the entire journey and not for each flight.

(2002/C 277 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0852/02

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Blind spot mirrors

Has the Commission noted the Dutch Government’s intention, because of the large number of

1.
accidents, to make blind spot mirrors mandatory on goods vehicles before the end of the year?

Is the Commission prepared to accept that, in doing so, the Netherlands is going beyond the relevant

2.
European rules, which make this mandatory for new goods vehicles only?

Is the Commission willing to consider extending the European rules to all goods vehicles on the basis

3.
of the Netherlands’ experience?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

The Commission has indeed noted the Dutch Government’s intention to make blind spot mirrors

1.
mandatory on goods vehicles before the end of 2002.

2.
The Commission has very recently submitted a proposal for a Directive of the Parliament and of the
Council (1) which will introduce mandatory harmonised requirements for the type-approval of mirrors and
systems for indirect vision for motor vehicles of categories M (vehicles for the carriage of passengers) and
N (vehicles for the carriage of goods). This proposed Directive is already being examined by the Parliament
in first reading and by the Council working party on motor vehicles. If adopted, it will amend Council