WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/02 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Informal systems for transferring money.
Date: 2002-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, financial legislation, financial policy, financial transaction

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/11

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2002)

Eurostat’s analyses of the impact on inflation of the changeover to the euro are based on the Harmonised
Index of Consumer Prices for the euro-zone as a whole. No breakdown by individual Member State is
available.

The analyses for the euro-zone used statistical time series techniques which, if a breakdown by individual
Member State were calculated, would give less reliable estimates.

It is therefore not possible to conduct the comparison requested.

(2003/C 222 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/02

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Informal systems for transferring money

Outside the official banking sector there are informal systems for transferring money (for example hawala
banking), which are used primarily for money transactions between members of ethnic communities but
are also used in areas where there are no official banks.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Is the use of such systems illegal in any of the Member States of the EU?

In which EU Member States are such systems for transferring money required to be notified or
registered (requirement to be registered as a financial institution or similar)?

In which EU Member States are they required to be authorised?

In which EU Member States are they subject to supervision, in the same way as credit institutions?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) adopted eight Special Recommendations
(SR) on terrorist financing in October 2001 (1). SR VI is concerned with alternative remittance systems and
including via informal systems or
calls on countries to ensure that all money transmission services,
networks, are subject
failure to respect such
requirements should give rise to appropriate sanctions.

to a licensing or registration requirement and that

The situation of the Member States as regards the implementation of SR VI is as follows:

1. The Commission is not aware of any Member State in which the use of such systems by customers is
illegal. However, the failure by money transmission businesses to respect the licensing or registration
requirements is subject to sanctions in all the Member States except Finland, Greece and Ireland. Those
three countries have announced their intention of addressing this issue in planned legislation.

2. A registration requirement for money transmission services applies in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy,

Sweden and the United Kingdom.

C 222 E/12

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

3. A licensing requirement applies in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal

and Spain.

Although no registration or licensing requirement is currently in force in Greece or Ireland, these
countries have announced legislative plans in this area.

4. A banking licence for the conduct of money transmission business is required in France and Germany.

(1) Text available at www.fatf-gafi.org.

(2003/C 222 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2604/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Pump guns

Reports of incidents of murder, manslaughter and accidents involving the use of pump guns have,
unfortunately, become an everyday occurrence.

Does the Council not consider that it would be appropriate to ban pump guns, as they are used neither by
the security forces nor by members of shooting clubs or huntsmen?

Does the Council share the concern felt by the author of this question, and does it intend to take action
itself and exert its influence with the Member States? How do matters stand in this area?

Reply

(5 and 6 May 2003)

The Council certainly shares the concern expressed by the Honourable Member regarding the risks
associated with misuse of pump guns. However, it is not for the Council to initiate any actions by itself
with a view to a possible ban of pump guns as the Honourable Member suggests. It is the competence of
the Member States themselves to take any action they deem appropriate to restrict or forbid the use of
pump guns.

(2003/C 222 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2609/02

by Bruno Gollnisch (NI) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Checking the identity of airline passengers

Airline passengers on French domestic routes are subject to repeated identity checks. Consequently,
passengers travelling from Paris to Lyons, for example, are subject to controls both at check-in and on
boarding the aircraft, whereas the identity of passengers travelling from Brussels, Berlin or Madrid is not
checked either on departure or on arrival.

Are these checks imposed by the airlines for tariff-related purposes, or are they a security requirement
imposed by the French authorities? In either event, does the Commission consider that they are compatible
with European rules?

If exceptions to the Schengen rules are being made for security reasons, how does the Commission explain
the fact that, paradoxically, these security requirements are stricter on domestic than on international
routes?