WRITTEN QUESTION E-1254/03 by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission. Statistics on the trading of goods between Community Member States.
Date: 2003-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, France, administrative formalities, small and medium-sized enterprises, trading operation

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/71

would the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Have the Rome city authorities submitted projects under the Action Framework for sustainable urban

development?

2. Has funding for such projects been obtained?

3. Has that funding been used?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1210/03, E-1211/03, E-1212/03, E-1213/03,
E-1214/03, E-1215/03, E-1216/03, E-1217/03, E-1218/03, E-1219/03,
E-1220/03, E-1221/03, E-1222/03, E-1223/03, E-1224/03 and E-1235/03
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to its communication Sustainable urban
development in the European Union: a framework for action (1). This is a policy discussion paper on
coordination of the various approaches the Commission has taken in the numerous sectoral policies
affecting the urban environment.

On use of Community funds by towns and cities, the paper recommends particular attention to urban
problems when the Operational Programmes for Structural Fund Objectives 1, 2 and 3 are presented by
the Member States’ authorities.

Thus no Community funds have been directly awarded in implementation of the framework to the sixteen
Italian towns and cities mentioned by the Honourable Member or to any other town or city in Europe.

(1) COM(98) 605 final.

(2004/C 65 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1254/03

by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject: Statistics on the trading of goods between Community Member States

Under Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 (1) the Community compiles statistics relating to the trading of goods
between Member States. The declarations concerned do not restrict the movement of goods in any way but
small businesses see them as obstacles to good management because failure to make a declaration leads to
financial penalties of almost EUR 1500.

The rules suggest that it is possible for operators to claim exemption from making declarations concerning
trading in goods under Articles 24 and 25 of Directive 77/388/EEC (2). These articles state that small
businesses can obtain tax relief and make simplified tax returns.

In France, under the regulation on statistics on the trading of goods within the Community, declarations
on the trading of goods are compulsory for all operators who acquire goods of a value exceeding
EUR 100 000. In addition to this declaration, operators also have to fill in VAT forms that require the
same information.

To simplify business management, some operators are asking for the threshold for compulsory declarations
to be increased to EUR 150 000 or even EUR 200 000.

C 65 E/72

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

What does the Commission think of this proposal? What solutions can be envisaged to ensure the
continuing availability of statistical
information on trading in goods within the Community while
simplifying business management?

(1) OJ L 316, 16.11.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

Statistical
information on trade in goods between Member States is collected on the basis of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 of 7 November 1991 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods
between Member States (Intrastat Regulation).

The scope of this Regulation is strictly limited to statistics and in most countries the statistical data are
collected separately from the information which those liable to VAT are required to provide to the national
tax authorities with regard to intra-Community dispatches and arrivals of goods. As the French authority
responsible for Intrastat is the Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (customs and indirect
taxes department), France has nevertheless opted for a statistical declaration that is also used for tax
purposes.

The exemption threshold of EUR 100 000, below which firms in France are not required to supply
statistical information, stems from application of the Intrastat Regulation with its system of thresholds
designed to ensure that the burden of response on firms, especially those which are small or medium-
sized, is not disproportionate to the statistical objectives. In applying this Intrastat Regulation, France also
uses other thresholds which allow the amount of information to be supplied to be adjusted according to
the extent of firms’ trade (simplified information).

France had already raised the exemption threshold on 1 January 2001; before that date it had been
EUR 38 000. According to the information provided by the Direction Générale des Douanes in France, the
result of this increase was likely to exempt about 50 000 firms whose annual trade in 2000 was below the
new threshold. In addition, among the firms required to submit a declaration, one in three is required to
submit only a simplified declaration.

The statistical thresholds, which are based on quality requirements fixed by the Intrastat Regulation, differ
from the thresholds which may be applied by the Member States in accordance with Directive 77/388/
EEC (1), which are for tax purposes and which can be of special benefit to specific professional sectors.

The Commission should shortly submit to Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a new Intrastat
regulation. The aim of providing a satisfactory response to the needs of users while limiting the response
burden on firms will be maintained. New adjustments to the thresholds applicable in France would seem
likely in connection with this new regulation which should enter into force in 2005.

(1) Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States

relating to turnover taxes (cid:1) Common system of value added tax: uniform basis of assessment.

(2004/C 65 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1267/03

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject: Odysseus Community Programme

According to the report in the authoritative briefing sheet ‘Agence Europe’ (12 March 2003), the first
phase of the Odysseus programme for controlling illegal
immigration failed because of the lack of a
common working language and technical compatibility problems which complicated the work which