WRITTEN QUESTION E-1314/03 by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Voting rights for EU citizens when living in another EU country.
Date: 2003-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, European citizenship, United Kingdom, competence of the Member States, electoral law, right to vote

C 33 E/104

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

(2004/C 33 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1292/03

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(4 April 2003)

Subject: Export of live cattle to third countries

How many live cattle for (i) slaughter, (ii) fattening and (iii) breeding were exported in 2002 from each
Member State to each individual third country of destination?

How much was paid out in export refunds in 2002 in respect of the export of live cattle from the EU to
third countries for (i) slaughter, (ii) fattening and (iii) breeding?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

A table which shows the quantities of Union exports of live bovine animals for 2002 by Member State and
country of destination, is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

Based on export licences for live bovine animals issued in 2002, export refunds amount to:

(cid:1) EUR 10,0 million for pure-bred breeding animals;

(cid:1) EUR 51,8 million for slaughter and other animals (including animals for fattening) (1).

(1) No separate figures are available for animals for slaughter and for other animals.

(2004/C 33 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1314/03

by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(7 April 2003)

Subject: Voting rights for EU citizens when living in another EU country

I have recently been contacted by a British citizen who has been living in Austria since 1981.

As a result of his extended absence he is unable to vote in national elections in the UK, due to UK rules
which state that after 15 years of absence a citizen can no longer vote in UK elections.

However, he is not able to vote in national elections in Austria either. Austrian rules allow non-Austrian
citizens to vote only in local and European elections.

There is no time limit on how long Austrian citizens living abroad are able to continue voting in Austrian
national elections. This difference in attitude of the Austrian and UK authorities has led to this anomalous
situation.

This situation is problematic, as clearly as a British and EU citizen this individual ought to be able to vote
in the national elections either of his country of residence or of his country of citizenship. Voting is a key
democratic right and to be denied this right is serious.

What is the Commission’s view on this situation?

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/105

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Honourable Member raises the point that United Kingdom citizens having been living abroad for more
than 15 years lose their right to vote in the United Kingdom.

The Commission refers first the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1301/02 from
Mr Michael Cashman (1), and confirms that Community law guarantees only that every Union citizen has
the right to vote and stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament and at municipal
elections in the Member State in which he resides, under the same conditions as nationals of that State.
The right to vote of own nationals of a Member State in elections of that Member State belongs fully to
the competence of the Member States, independent whether those citizens reside in its territory or outside
of its territory, as explicitly confirmed in the relevant Directives 93/109/EC (2) and Directive 94/80/EC (3).

(1) OJ C 92 E, 17.4.2003.
(2) Council Directive of 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993 laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the
right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a
Member State of which they are not nationals, OJ L 329, 31.12.1993.

(3) Council Directive of 94/80/EC of 19 December 1994 laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the
right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal elections by citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of
which they are not nationals, OJ L 368, 31.12.1994.

(2004/C 33 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1333/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Unlawful charging of commission by banks

Despite the entry into force of the euro and Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001 (1) of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 19 December 2001 on cross-border payments in euro, banking institutions and
banks in general continue to charge commission for both transfers and the depositing of cheques from the
various European countries.

The Belgian Post Office still uses the phrase ‘from abroad’ when notifying bank transfers from other
European countries.

This constitutes an extra burden and inconvenience for the general public, especially immigrants, who are
often obliged to make trans-national payments and transfers. Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it can take steps to ensure that transfers between Member States of the euro zone are defined

as ‘from the Union’ and ban the phrase ‘from abroad’;

(cid:1) whether the charging of this kind of commission by banks is compatible with current European

legislation;

(cid:1) how it intends to tackle any infringement of the Regulation which may be ascertained;

(cid:1) how it intends to regulate, for transfers and cheques from the Member States of the Union, the levying

of charges equal to those levied for transfers and cheques within a country?

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