WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/03 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Substandard workmanship in Greece.
Date: 2003-06-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, Greece, fraud, operational programme, public works

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/387

The vitality of this sector is reflected by a 20 % increase in demand for rent or purchase in 2002 compared
with the previous year. Despite the high level of demand for cultural products of this nature, further
expansion is being hampered by high VAT rates with no reductions as is the case with cinema entrance
tickets and pay television, for example.

Does the Commission intend to extend Annex H of the sixth VAT directive (Directive 77/388/EEC (1), as
amended by Directive 2001/4/EC (2)), removing or reducing VAT on video cassette and DVD-related goods
and services so as to support the European film industry?

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 22, 24.1.2001, p. 17.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2003)

Under the Sixth VAT Directive (1) as it stands, all Member States must apply the standard rate to rentals
and purchases of video cassettes and DVDs. This ensures that taxes on these products are to some degree
harmonised throughout the Community (though the standard rate varies between Member States from
15 % to 25 %). Reduced rates are optional for Member States and introducing this option for video
cassettes and DVDs would only increase the differences in rates applied across the Community.

The Commission intends to present a proposal for a Directive on reduced VAT rates before the summer of
2004. The primary purpose of the proposal will be to improve the functioning of the single market by
rationalising the way Member States use reduced rates. The aim is to avoid potential distortions in
competition by giving all Member States the same opportunity to apply reduced rates.

In the lead-up to the forthcoming revision of reduced rates, the case for extending their scope will be
carefully examined.

(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, OJ L 145, 13.6.1977, as last amended by Council Directive 2002/92/EC of 3 December
2002, OJ L 331, 7.12.2002.

(2004/C 78 E/0410)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Substandard workmanship in Greece

(2 June 2003)

From the Commission’s answer to my Question (E-0807/03) (1) I gather that the problem of substandard
workmanship in Greece continues to exist and that it is not always clear what steps have been taken by
the authorities in response to this.

Since 31 May 2003 is the final date for settlement of amounts due under the second CSF, can the
Commission indicate its general position regarding the problem of substandard workmanship affecting
projects receiving funding under the second CSF in Greece and say what measures it will take to resolve
the matter under the relevant European Union rules?

(1) OJ C 11 E, 15.1.2004, p. 122.

C 78 E/388

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 August 2003)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its reply to his previous question E-0807/03 (1).

In addition at the appropriate moment in time, a closure proposal will be made to the Greek authorities
on the basis of the information made available by these authorities to the Commission services. It should
be noted that the date of 31 May 2003 refers to the deadline to be respected as a general rule. The
experience from the closure procedure for the majority of programmes in almost all the Member States
has shown that this deadline will be difficult to comply with in view of the quantity and quality of the
dossiers submitted by the Member States. The closure proposal for Greece will take account, in due time,
of the findings of Espel concerning any sub-standard works, and the extent to which the required remedial
works are certified by the Greek authorities as having been subsequently carried out.

(1) OJ C 11 E, 15.1.2004, p. 122.

(2004/C 78 E/0411)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1838/03

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE), Charles Tannock (PPE-DE),
Sir Robert Atkins (PPE-DE), Giles Chichester (PPE-DE),
Hartmut Nassauer (PPE-DE) and Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Free Trade Agreement between Singapore and the EU

(3 June 2003)

Does the Commission recognise the substantial mutual benefits that could result from an Free Trade
Agreement between the EU and Singapore? Does the Commission share our concern that Singapore either
has, or is negotiating, FTAs with surrounding countries including Japan, China and India, and that the EU
may therefore be disadvantaged in dealing with Singapore unless we too have an FTA? Does the
Commission agree that Singapore’s status as a country with tiny agricultural production makes it a
particularly straightforward country with which to negotiate an FTA?

We understand that tentative offers of an FTA from the EU to Singapore have been linked to rather
specific conditions, for example that the FTA should apply to at least two countries from ASEAN,
Singapore and at least one other. Would the Commission not agree that, given the benefits to the EU, we
should seek to make the offer as easy as possible for Singapore to accept? Would the Commission agree
that the wide variations in economic and political development between ASEAN countries might make the
‘Two Countries’ criterion very difficult for Singapore to fulfil, and might prove an unnecessary and
counter-productive barrier to an FTA?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 2003)

The priority for Union attention and resources remains the multilateral negotiations in the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) under the Doha Development Agenda.

The Commission, nevertheless, follows closely and with interest the development of various regional
economic integration initiatives currently taking place within East Asia, including the Free Trade Area
(FTA) negotiations which Singapore has already concluded with Japan, New Zealand, the European Free
Trade Association (EFTA), Australia, and the United States, and is currently pursuing with India, Canada,
and Mexico.