WRITTEN QUESTION P-2253/02 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission. Withdrawal of banknotes from cash dispensers in the euro zone.
Date: 2002-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Luxembourg, bank charges, consumer protection, electronic banking, euro, euro area, law of banking

C 137 E/62

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

(2003/C 137 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2253/02

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Withdrawal of banknotes from cash dispensers in the euro zone

Under the provisions of Regulation 2560/2001 (1) of 19 December 2001, from 1 July the entire euro zone
constitutes an internal market in which people travelling outside their country in the euro zone will be
able to withdraw money from cash dispensers under the same conditions as in their own country.

The intention of this Regulation is clearly to have a single currency in the internal market. However, I have
received letters from customers of Sogenal in France and the Caisse d’Epargne de L’Etat in Luxembourg
stating that anyone wishing to withdraw money in other euro zone countries or in their own country but
from cash dispensers of banks other than their own will be obliged to pay increased charges. All this seems
to me to be incompatible with the provisions of Regulation 2560/2001.

Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to resolve these problems?

(1) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001, p. 13.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

The provisions of Regulation No 2560/2001 of 19 December 2001 relating to charges for withdrawing
money from cash dispensers (1) have been in force since 1 July 2002. Consequently, cardholders pay the
same charges for withdrawing money in their country of origin as in other euro zone countries.

In 2001 charges for withdrawing money from cash dispensers varied widely from one country to another.
In certain countries charges made for this transaction (cid:1) if they exist at all (cid:1) are identical for all cash
dispensers. In others, charges vary according to the network concerned; cardholders pay different charges
according to whether they use a cash dispenser belonging to their own bank or to a rival establishment.
In the second instance, withdrawals carried out abroad are considered as being withdrawals from a rival
bank. This situation is compatible with the Regulation if it really costs the same to withdraw money from
a rival bank in the country of origin as it does to withdraw money abroad.

The Honourable Member is probably referring to the announcement by a major French bank that it was
going to start charging for withdrawals made from banks outside its network; such withdrawals,
it
announced, would be subject to charges after the fourth transaction of the month performed outside the
network. The Commission protested via the press, because the information disseminated by the bank in
question suggested that the measure was a direct result of implementing the Regulation, although another
major French bank has been doing the same for several years.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2001 on cross-

border payments in euro, OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.

(2003/C 137 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2254/02

by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Human rights in Western Sahara

When the European Parliament’s Ad Hoc Delegation for Western Sahara was in Western Sahara in
February, we had the opportunity to meet representatives of various interest groups. Subsequently, three of
them lost their jobs as a direct consequence of their contact with Parliament: Moumen Mohamed
Mahmoud of National Promotion and Moutik Elhoussine and Noumria Brahim, both of the Sahara Section
of the Forum of Truth and Justice. Is the Council aware of this, and what measures will it take?