WRITTEN QUESTION E-1676/03 by Professor Sir Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Value-added tax on repairs to listed places of worship.
Date: 2003-05-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, VAT rate, architectural heritage, church, heritage protection, religious institution

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(2004/C 11 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1674/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 May 2003)

Subject: Closure of CSF and Community initiatives

Under Council Regulation 1260/1999 (1), Member States are required to submit applications to the
Commission no later than 31 March 2003 for final payment in respect of programmes approved by the
Commission between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1999 (CSF and Community initiatives).

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) in respect of which programmes funded from the ERDF, ESF, EAGGF and FIFG has Greece submitted

applications for final payment and what is the sum involved for each application;

(cid:1) when does it expect that these sums will be paid to Greece;

(cid:1) in respect of which programmes have these sums already been paid?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2003)

The annexed table gives the 1994-99 Operational Programmes for which the Greek authorities have
submitted final payment applications, the amounts claimed and the payments already made.

The applications that have not yet resulted in payment are being examined by the Commission under the
provisions in force applicable for all countries receiving Structural Fund assistance.

(2004/C 11 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1676/03

by Professor Sir Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Value-added tax on repairs to listed places of worship

(19 May 2003)

The United Kingdom Government has put forward a proposal that valued added tax should be reduced to
5 % in respect of repairs to cover repairs to listed places of worship. In view of the architectural, cultural
and environmental significance of church buildings, and of the heavy burdens their maintenance imposes
upon congregations, will the Commission actively support this proposal before the Council? How soon can
a decision on this matter be expected?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2003)

The Commission is not aware of any proposal by the UK Government to apply a reduced rate of VAT to
repairs to listed places of worship. Under current Community rules, a reduced rate for such work would
not be permissible. However, the Commission is aware of the problem referred to by the Honourable
Member. It touched on the matter in its report on the reduced rates adopted in October 2001 (1).

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The Commission is planning to present a proposal for a Directive on reduced VAT rates before the
summer. The main purpose of the proposal will be to improve the functioning of the single market by
rationalising Member States’ use of reduced rates: the aim will be to avoid distortions of competition by
giving Member States the same scope to set reduced rates.

The merits of extending this scope to new areas will be carefully examined in preparation for this
forthcoming review of reduced rates.

(1) COM(2001) 599 final.

(2004/C 11 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1703/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

Subject: Stress in Europe

Millions of Europeans suffer from stress, at a cost to the economy of billions of euros. This alarming
situation calls for urgent action to be taken to remedy an ill that blights the lives of many of our citizens.

the importance of

stress as a work-related health problem in its
The Commission recognises
communication ‘Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety
at work 2002-2006’, with regard to which, in its Resolution of 23 October 2002, Parliament called on the
Commission to ‘allocate the resources necessary to reflect the high priority to be accorded to occupational
health and safety’ and to urgently draw up a ‘detailed action plan with financial and timing commitments
against each major proposal’.

Can the Commission indicate what tangible actions it has undertaken to combat a problem which affects
millions of people and engenders significant health risks at work?

Does it intend to present any measures that would improve health at work and mitigate new health risks
in the world of work, including that of stress?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that stress is a major scourge that affects European
workers and citizens. Therefore, several policy measures have been put forward to counteract stress and
promote well-being at European level.

First of all, the Commission produced Guidance on work-related stress (1). This Guidance provides general
information on the causes, manifestations and consequences of work-related stress, both for workers and
work organisations. It also offers general advice on how work-related stress problems and their causes can
be identified, and proposes a practical and flexible framework for action that can be adapted to suit
national and individual company situations. The focus is on primary prevention of work-related stress,
rather than on treatment. The Guidance is of a non-binding nature and is addressed to Member States and
their social partners.

‘Working on stress’ was the main topic of the 2002 European Week for Safety and Health at Work. The
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, which was in charge of the co-ordination of the Week,
set up a website (2), organised a good practice award scheme and disseminated information and education
materials. A wide range of activities, involving different types of organisations, companies and individuals,
took place in the Member States.