WRITTEN QUESTION E-2160/02 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The euro and the rounding-up of prices.
Date: 2002-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Eurostat, consumer goods, consumer price, euro, euro area, inflation, price increase, provision of services

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Official Journal of the European Union

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14.8.2003

Eurostat is aware of this arrangement and is paying close attention to the efforts being made by Greece to
deal with the situation regarding transmission deadlines.

Depending on the results for the coming months, Eurostat will, if necessary, step up its representations to
the Greek authorities.

The Commission (Eurostat) has no specific comments to make regarding the reliability of the Greek

4.
data.

(2003/C 192 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2160/02

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Subject: The euro and the rounding-up of prices

Extracts from the Eurobarometer poll 57.1, published in Memo IP/02/791 dated 31 May 2002, suggest
that 68,5 % of those surveyed in the eurozone believe that prices have been rounded up in all areas.

Has the Commission attempted to quantify the impact on prices as a result of rounding-up following the
introduction of the euro?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

There is no statistical evidence that the euro changeover has caused a generalised price increase in any of
the euro area countries.

Eurostat issued a press release in July 2002 that analyses trends in prices over the last few months and
addresses the euro changeover related issues (1).

Inflation in the euro area peaked in May 2001 (3,3 % annual
increase of the harmonised indices of
consumer prices (HICP)) and has not since reached comparable levels. During the changeover period it is
possible to observe an increase from an annual growth rate of 2 % in December 2001 to an annual rate of
2,7 % in January 2002. These increases can be traced to the hike in oil prices and prices of fresh fruit and
vegetables. In fact, inflation has followed a similar trend (from 1,9 % to 2,5 % annually) in the Union,
thereby including the three countries not part of the euro area. In particular, from December 2001 to
January 2002, yearly inflation increased from 2,1 % to 2,5 % in Denmark and from 1 % to 1,6 % in the
United Kingdom. During this period, inflation decreased in Portugal and in the Netherlands. Italy saw only
a minor increase in inflation from 2,2 % to 2,4 % (2). Inflation has since then been characterised by a
descending trend. It reached 1,8 % in the euro area in June 2002.

The average rate of change in the euro-zone HICP between the first six months of 2002 and the last six
months of 2001 was 1,4 %. This rate was the same as the six-month rate ending in June 2001 and close to
the corresponding rates in June and December 2000.

The largest part of the price increases over this period can for most item groups (cid:1) according to Eurostat’s
analysis (cid:1) be explained by a normal inflation pattern and by some special non-euro factors; in particular
bad weather affecting fruit and vegetable prices, car and energy prices, and some significant tax increases
on tobacco (3). These factors can explain as much as 1,2 percentage points out of the total of 1,4 %. The
contribution to the 1,4 % total of the changeover to euro banknotes and coins most likely falls within the
range of 0,0 % to 0,2 % (4).

Some sectors of the economy have, nonetheless, seen a more pronounced increase in prices. Apart from
food, some services, mainly hotels and restaurants, some health-related services and some repair services
registered strong price increases. It is possible that due to the particularly sensitive nature of categories

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where prices have indeed risen, the effect on public opinion may be significant. This may explain why
there is a general perception that prices have risen following the introduction of the euro banknotes and
coins.

However, it should be remembered that the fundamental medium to long run anticipated effect of the
physical introduction of euro banknotes and coins is to improve the competitive environment across the
euro area, and thus ultimately to raise economic efficiency as well as have a downward impact on
consumer prices.

(1) The press release No 84/2002 issue on 17 July 2002 may be found at the following internet address: http://
www.europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/Public/datashop/print-product/EN?catalogue=Eurostat&product=2-17072002-EN-
BP-EN&mode=download.

(2) Eurostat.
(3) The alcohol and tobacco goods registered a 2 % quarterly inflation q/q in 2002Q1.
(4) This range is slightly higher than the 0,0 % to 0,16 % range estimated for the month-on-month change between
December 2001 and January 2002 and the quarter-on-quarter change between the last quarter of 2001 and the first
quarter of 2002, as first published by Eurostat in February and May 2002.

(2003/C 192 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2167/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Accident rate on board Community fishing vessels

(18 July 2002)

Bearing in mind that the accident rate on board Community fishing vessels remains extremely high, does
the Commission not consider it necessary to step up its policy of updating and improving mechanisms to
increase safety and prevent industrial accidents on board vessels in the Community fleet?

What measures has the Commission taken and what steps will it take to cut the accident rate on board
Community fishing vessels?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2002)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s concern about the situation in the fisheries sector,
which is regarded as a high-risk area of activity.

The Commission would emphasise in this connection that since 1989, a broad legislative framework has,
on a proposal from the Commission, been adopted by the EU with the aim of encouraging improvements
in the health and safety of workers at work, particularly with regard to the safety of workers on fishing
vessels.

Reference should be made here to the framework Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the
introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (1) and
the individual Council Directives 93/103/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning the minimum safety and
health requirements for work on board fishing vessels (2), 90/269/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum
health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads where there is a risk particularly of back
injury to workers (3), 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health
requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (4) as amended by Council Directive 95/
63/EC of 5 December 1995 (5), 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety
requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (4), and Council
Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved
medical treatment on board vessels (6).