WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/02 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transposition of the new Postal Services Directive 2002/39/EC by the candidate countries.
Date: 2002-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: accession to the European Union, application of EU law, competition, liberalisation of the market, national implementing measure, postal service

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/191

Restricting access to alcohol, especially for children and young people, is one of the measures in alcohol
policy, which can help to prevent the problems due to the inappropriate consumption of alcohol.

There is, however, no legislation at Community level regulating the minimum legal age for the purchase of
alcohol or other restrictions on access to the product.

In June 2001, the Council adopted a Recommendation on the drinking of alcohol by young people, in
particular children and adolescents (1), which encourages the Member States to increase their health
promotion efforts, with a specific emphasis on settings such as schools, youth organisations and sporting
organisations.

The Recommendation also proposes that Member States ensure that existing regulations regarding the
illegal sale of alcohol to under-age consumers are enforced.

There are no plans to introduce Community legislation to restrict the sale of alcohol to specific groups or
at specific locations. The Commission is, however, urging the producers of alcoholic beverages to make
sure that self-regulation regarding the promotion and the sale of alcohol is further developed and enforced.

The Council Conclusions of June 2001 on a Community Strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm will offer
opportunities to discuss all aspects of alcohol policy, including the issue of restricting access.

(1) OJ L 161, 16.6.2001.

(2003/C 52 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/02

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Transposition of the new Postal Services Directive 2002/39/EC by the candidate countries

This Spring, the new European Parliament and Council directive 2002/39/EC (1), amending Directive 97/
67/EC (2) with regard to the further opening to competition of Community postal services, was adopted.
The Member States must transpose this new Directive into national law by 31 December 2003.

Does the Commission propose to set separate deadlines for the candidate countries for the liberalisation of
their postal markets, or is it intended that the new Postal Services Directive should already have been
transposed by the candidate countries at the time of accession?

Will the EU competition rules also have to be transposed by the candidate countries by the time of their
accession?

(1) OJ L 176, 5.7.2002, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

As any other piece of the ‘acquis communautaire’, candidate countries will be required to have transposed
the new Directive 2002/39/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 amending Directive
97/67/EC with regard to the further opening to competition of Community postal services, by the date of
their accession to the Union, unless the Accession Treaties would include, in due time, specific transitional
arrangements.

As far as the competition rules are concerned, the Central and East European countries have the obligation
under the Association Agreements to ensure already now that the substantive antitrust and state aid rules
of the ‘acquis’ are respected.