WRITTEN QUESTION P-1280/02 by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Date: 2002-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, Israel, Palestine question, church, military intervention, political asylum

C 52 E/54

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

includes accommodation provided by hotels and similar establishments including holiday
The list
accommodation and the letting of camping sites and caravan parks. The 15 Member States may therefore
choose whether or not to apply a reduced rate to such services. The rates currently applied by the Member
States are set out in a table which is being sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the General
Secretariat of the Parliament.

The drafting of these provisions (cid:1) the option of applying a reduced rate and the list of goods and services
to which the reduced rate may apply (cid:1) is the result of negotiations in the Council.

In 2000, the Commission adopted a communication on a new VAT strategy (2) focusing mainly on
simplifying and modernising the existing rules, and applying the current provisions more uniformly.
Against this background, the Commission intends to review the structure of reduced VAT rates over the
course of next year with a view to proposing an enhanced approximation of these rates.

However, it should be noted that as the adoption of new tax provisions is still subject to unanimity in the
Council, Commission proposals generally run the risk of being amended.

In order to ensure ‘neutrality’ in the single market a certain degree of VAT harmonisation is necessary.
That some Member States apply reduced rates and others do not leads to distortions of competition in
cross-border areas. For 2003 the Commission therefore foresees an overall review of the current reduced
VAT rate structure. Ideally, VAT harmonisation should not be a pretext to raise VAT to the highest levels
applied in Member States but should aim at a business-friendly low VAT level in all Member States.

The VAT rate does play a role in a country’s price level. However, there is no evidence that differences in
VAT application determine the choice of destination of holidaymakers. VAT and income differences seem
to be able to explain some of the price differences found in the Union, but they are far from being the
only cause. Price differences across the Union are large whether measured with or without VAT.

The application of the reduced VAT is also frequently justified by its positive effect on the labour-intensive
thus is better enabled to respond to ‘basic needs’ and to create employment.
tourism sector that
The Commission, however, thinks that VAT is a broad consumption tax rather than a suitable instrument
for social engineering or employment policy.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977. Directive last amended by Council Directive 2001/115/EC of 20 December 2001, OJ L 15,

17.1.2002.

(2) COM(2000) 348 final.

(2003/C 52 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1280/02

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Subject: Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

On 2 April about 230 armed Palestinians, including 30 militiamen, entered the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem to take shelter from the advancing Israeli troops. Scores of Palestinian civilians, as well as
Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian priests and nuns, are currently inside the complex.

The people trapped in the Church of
the sanitary
conditions now prevailing in the buildings. The bodies of two Palestinians shot dead by Israeli army
snipers have been left in the complex for more than a week.

the Nativity have repeatedly complained about

How does the Union, and especially the High Representative responsible for foreign policy, propose to deal
with the extremely serious matter of the military siege of the Church of the Nativity?

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Does the Commission not believe that impartial international guarantees should be provided to establish a
channel or safe conduct for delivery of the most urgent relief supplies (such as food and medicines) to
those under siege?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2002)

The Commission would like to refer to the fact that the situation of the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem was resolved on 10 May with the help of EU representatives.

Regarding the Union’s and in particular the High Representative’s involvement the Commission would
suggest that this question be redirected to the Council.

(2003/C 52 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1282/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Financing of the European Business Summit

(7 May 2002)

The European Business Summit is due to take place in Brussels on 6-8 June 2002. The registration fee is
EUR 2 178 (reduced rate for participants from candidate countries: EUR 1815). As 1 500 people are
expected to attend the Summit, the takings will be in the order of about EUR 3 million.

The organisers say in their publicity material that the Summit is supported by the European Commission.
According to the programme, eight Members of the Commission are to address the Summit.

Can the Commission state who the organisers of this meeting are and what sort of support they are being
given?

Will it indicate in particular whether it is also making payments to the organisers (e.g. in the form of
subsidies or by purchasing admission tickets)?

Can it state who the above-mentioned registration fees are going to, and what is being done with the
money?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2002)

The European Business Summit (EBS) was organised by European Business Forum Asbl, a non-profit
making organisation established in 1999 for the organisation of the first EBS in June 2000.

The Commission hired a total stand area of 105 m2 from company ACE at the normal rate for all
organisations, and its various departments were grouped at common European Union stand. The only
Commission subsidy to the EBS was a EUR 39 000 grant from the Directorate-General Enlargement for the
organisation of conferences within the summit to present each of the 13 candidate countries, at a value of
EUR 3 000 per country.

Around eighty percent of the 1 500 people expected to attend the EBS were guests who received free
admission badges: politicians, sponsors, any persons working for companies which have a stand, including
officials of the DGs participating in the European Union stand, from Heads of Unit upwards, and Members
of the European Parliament.

The total budget for the second EBS was estimated at EUR 1,8 million, of which approximately one-third
was covered by the takings from the sale of admission badges to around 300 delegates. The remaining
two-thirds were covered by sponsorship. The EBS expects to break even.