WRITTEN QUESTION E-2126/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Compulsory provision of basic banking services for all EU citizens.
Date: 2003-06-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, European social policy, consumer protection, law of banking, social integration, universal service

C 65 E/112

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

The government deficit and debt that are relevant for the purpose of the Stability and Growth Pact are
defined in the Protocol on the Excessive Deficit Procedure and in Council Regulation (EC) No 3605/93 of
22 November 1993 (1), as amended (2), through cross-references to the European System of National and
Regional Accounts (ESA95). According to the Protocol, the relevant sector is ‘general government, that is
central government, regional or local government and social security funds, to the exclusion of commercial
operations’.

General government is defined on an institutional basis, and not on a functional basis. Thus, only units of
which the principal function is the production of non-market services or the redistribution of resources are
included. Accordingly, the government-owned units dealing with commercial operations, such as public
enterprises, are excluded from general government and classified as financial or non-financial corporations.

In the Belgian national accounts, compiled according to the ESA95 rules, the Société wallonne des
aéroports (Sowaer, SA)
is classified in the sector of non-financial corporations, and not as general
government. Therefore, investment spending by Sowaer does not have any direct impact on the Belgian
general government deficit, and the Sowaer financial
liabilities are not government debt. However,
subsidies, capital transfers and other grants by the Belgian Government to Sowaer, if any, are recorded as
government expenditure, thus increasing the government deficit and debt.

(1) OJ L 332, 31.12.1993.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 475/2000 of 28 February 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 3605/93 on the
application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, OJ L 58, 3.3.2000.

(2004/C 65 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2126/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Compulsory provision of basic banking services for all EU citizens

In Belgium, the Basic Banking Services Act will enter into force in September 2003. From then onwards,
everyone who so wishes must be able to open an account at the bank of his choice for a maximum of
EUR 12 per annum. In return, the bank must provide a number of minimum services. The Belgian
legislature considered this measure to be necessary partly because banks were refusing to accept many less
affluent people as customers, and such people were consequently unable to engage in payment
transactions which are regarded as a normal part of modern life.

Is the Commission aware of this Belgian initiative, and, in the light of it, is the Commission considering
introducing a similar socially desirable initiative at European level so that all citizens of the Union can
expect minimum services from banks and thus continue to participate in modern payment transactions?
If so, what steps will it take? If not, why will it not introduce such a measure?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

The Commission is aware of the Belgian law, which introduces minimum banking services at a national
level.

While the question of access to minimal banking services is an important question, at present the
Commission does not envisage to propose a legal instrument that would introduce a similar obligation in
the financial services sector throughout the Union. The issue was discussed at a workshop organised by the
Commission back in February 2001. The idea of access to basic banking services was not included either
in the Commission’s Green Book on services of general interest published in May 2003 (1).

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/113

According to the information available, the national economic and social framework and, consequently,
the national approaches on minimum services from banks differ from one Member State to another.
In other words, this is a matter best left to national regulation.

In the absence of harmonisation, Member States are free to adopt or maintain laws such as the Belgian one
provided the national measures comply with the general principles of the EC Treaty and fulfil the
requirements of proportionality and non-discrimination.

(1) COM(2003) 270 final.

(2004/C 65 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2163/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 June 2003)

Subject: European Union-Iraq relations

The Catalan Football Federation had planned to hold a friendly international match on 25 June in
Barcelona between the Catalan and Iraqi teams. The purpose of the match, as stated by the Federation
President, was to help raise funds for the reconstruction of a country (cid:1) Iraq (cid:1) which has been devastated
by war.

According to media reports, the Spanish Foreign Ministry did not grant visas to the Iraqi players who were
to take part in this match in Barcelona.

Will the Commission look into the Spanish Government’s reasons for preventing this football match
between Catalunya and Iraq, which would doubtless have helped to improve relations and foster greater
understanding between European citizens and the Iraqi people?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that
objectives are to be welcomed.

the football match in question and its

It would though point out that decisions on the entry of third-country nationals into the territory of the
Schengen States (1) fall within the remit of the national administrations concerned, which take their
decision on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Schengen acquis.

To gain entry into the territory of the Schengen States for a stay not exceeding three months, nationals
must satisfy the entry conditions laid down in Article 5 of the Schengen Convention (2). They must be in
possession of a valid travel document, must produce, if necessary, documents justifying the purpose and
conditions of the intended stay, must not be persons for whom an alert has been issued for the purposes
of refusing entry and must not be considered a threat
to public policy, national security or the
the Schengen States. For third-country nationals who must be in
international relations of one of
possession of a visa pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 (3), verification of compliance with the entry
conditions is initially carried out when the visa application is being vetted. If one or other of the entry
conditions is found not to have been met, the application for a Schengen visa is normally rejected. In
it deems necessary, derogate from this principle on
exceptional cases, a Schengen State may,
humanitarian grounds, on grounds of national interest or because of international obligations. In such
cases, it issues a visa that is restricted to its territory.

if

In the matter referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission does not have any information
regarding the circumstances or grounds that led to the Iraqi players’ visa applications being rejected.