WRITTEN QUESTION E-1250/02 by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Border charges payable by Romanian nationals.
Date: 2002-05-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Romania, border control, customs regulations, foreign national

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/101

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Yes. On 24 April 2002, the Commission decided to prolong the existing State Aid framework for Research
and Development (1) without any modification until the end of 2005. A communication to this effect is
published in the Official Journal (2).

While it is well aware of criticism expressed against the framework, the Commission is of the view that, on
the whole, the current framework has functioned satisfactorily and that in particular the aid intensities
permitted by the framework have proven to be favourable for research and development. Furthermore, the
framework is also suitable for supporting the objective adopted by the Barcelona European Council (15 and
16 March 2002) which is to increase investment in research and development in Europe to 3 % of the
gross domestic product (GDP) by 2010. This objective should in the first place be achieved by efforts
coming from the private sector directly. State aid for research and development is only one instrument
among others to achieve this objective.

The Commission therefore believes that the framework as it stands supports the achievement of the
Barcelona objective, and no changes are necessary in this is respect.

(1) OJ C 45, 17.2.1996, as amended by the Commission communication amending the Community framework for

state aid for research and development, OJ C 48, 13.2.1998.

(2) OJ C 111, 8.5.2002.

(2002/C 309 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1250/02

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Border charges payable by Romanian nationals

(6 May 2002)

Romanian nationals who wish to wish to visit relatives living in Germany say that they are required to pay
EUR 500 at the border in order to obtain exit visas for limited periods.

The Commission:

1.

Is it aware of these swingeing border charges on Romanian nationals?

2. What view does it take of these exit-visa fees?

3. What will it do to make it possible for Romanian nationals to visit relatives without having to make

such payments?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2002)

The Commission is aware of an order issued by the Romanian Ministry of

1.
the Interior on
22 November 2001 which sets the amounts in euros which Romanian nationals leaving Romania on
private trips to EU Member States or other countries which do not require a visa for Romanian nationals
must have at their disposal.

Romanian nationals must be able to prove, when exit controls are carried out upon their leaving
Romanian territory, that they have these amounts at their disposal (cash, credit card, traveller’s cheques,
bank guarantee, security or sponsorship by the person inviting them). Various categories of people are
exempted from this obligation, notably those visiting a relative abroad, those who are travelling for the
purpose of obtaining medical treatment, under-age children in certain conditions, and those participating
in conferences or sporting events.

The order does not require payment of a fee for authorisation to leave Romania.

C 309 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

The way in which Romania regulates exit from its territory of its own nationals currently falls
2.
entirely within its own jurisdiction since the rules of Community law relating to free movement of people
(which provide in particular that the territory may be left simply on presentation of an identity card or
passport) do not yet apply.

The rules on exit checks when leaving Romanian territory should be viewed in the light of the

3.
current arrangements for the entry of Romanian nationals into the territory of the Member States.

Since 1 January 2002 (1), Romanian nationals are no longer required to possess a short-stay visa to enter
the Schengen countries. This being the case, they must fulfil the entry conditions specified by Article 5(1)
of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (2). One of these is the requirement to have
sufficient means of subsistence. The Schengen countries have not as yet set a harmonised amount of
means of subsistence. Some of them apply a reference amount while others do not (3). These reference
amounts, which are indicative in nature, are to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the
actual situations that arise.

The authorities take account in particular of the length of stay envisaged, the conditions of the intended
stay and the type of accommodation. The existence of a sponsorship arrangement or invitation is an
important element in assessing whether the means the person in question has at his disposal will allow
him to meet his needs during his stay.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2414/2001 of 7 December 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the
third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of Member States
and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (OJ L 327, 12.12.2001). This Regulation is binding on
the Member States, except Ireland and the United Kingdom, and on Iceland and Norway.

(2) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000.
(3) Common Consular Instructions, Annex 7, ‘Reference amounts required for crossing borders fixed annually by the

national authorities’ (OJ L 239, 22.9.2000).

(2002/C 309 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1254/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Council

(6 May 2002)

Subject: Attendance at Council Meetings

Would the Council please clarify what precedents there have been for attendance by Parliamentarians or
NGO’s at Council meetings?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

Under Article 5(1) of the Council’s Rules of Procedure (1):
‘Meetings of the Council shall not be public
except in cases referred to in Article 8’ which relates to public debates. Under paragraph 2 of this Article:
‘The Commission shall be invited to take part in meetings of the Council. The same applies to the
European Central Bank in cases where it exercises its right of initiative. The Council may, however, decide
to deliberate without the presence of the Commission or of the European Central Bank’. Under paragraph 3
‘The members of the Council and of the Commission may be accompanied by officials who assist them
(…)’.

There are no instances where a Member of the European Parliament or a representative of an NGO has
been invited to attend a meeting of the Council. As to members of national parliaments, the Council has
not been informed that there would have been a member of a national parliament as part of the delegation
of a member of the Council.

This should not be confused with informal meetings between Ministers and Members of the European
Parliament which occasionally take place in the margins of meetings of the Council.

(1) OJ L 149, 23.6.2000.