WRITTEN QUESTION E-2141/03 by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission. German road tolls.
Date: 2003-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, commercial vehicle, restriction on competition, tax law, tax relief, toll, transport company, transport price

C 84 E/14

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

An ex-post evaluation is now being carried out. This will reveal whether the objectives laid down have
been achieved and how effective the measures financed have been.

The Commission will
available.

inform the Honourable Member as soon as the results of this evaluation are

(2004/C 84 E/0014)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2103/03

by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission

(18 June 2003)

Subject: Cross-border investment

Does the Commission consider that the introduction of the euro has boosted cross-border investment for
the participating states? Could the Commission also give the figures for Sweden?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2003)

As stated in the reply by the Commission to the Honorourable Member’s written question E-1350/03 (1),
available data for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) indicate that the introduction of the euro has had a
favourable effect on cross-border investment for the participating countries. FDI data compiled by Eurostat
show a much larger increase of FDI inflows in 1999 and 2000 for the euro area than for other Member
States. This can be interpreted as an evidence of a positive impact of the Economic and Monetary Union
on cross-border direct investment. Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that EMU is only one of
the factors that have affected euro-area FDI flows in recent years. In 2001, the slowdown in merger
activity and depressed economic conditions entailed a sharp drop in FDI inflows for both the euro-area
and other Member States.

The figures for foreign direct investmen (2) for Sweden are as follows:

From EU-15 to Sweden

From eurozone to Sweden

From non-eurozone to Sweden

From extra EU 15 to Sweden

1999 (1)

45 185

8 839

36 346

5 370

2000

12 061

8 496

3 565

8 280

(million euros)

2001

8 646

7 090

1 556

2 715

Source: Eurostat
(1)

The merger between Astra and Zeneca and Ford’s acquisition of Volvo Personvagnar boosted FDI inflow to
Sweden by about EUR 34 062 million (SEK 300 billion) in 1999.

(1) See page 8.
(2) Excludes reinvested earnings.

(2004/C 84 E/0015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2141/03

by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: German road tolls

Germany is introducing a motorway toll of SEK 11,45 per ten kilometres for heavy goods vehicles from
1 September 2003. This toll will affect Sweden and Denmark in that it puts them in a worse competitive
position than other European countries.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/15

The toll is obviously contrary to EU competition rules. What steps will the Commission take to find a
solution to this problem?

(2004/C 84 E/0016)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2243/03

by Christoph Konrad (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Distortions of competition by German goods-vehicle toll

(30 June 2003)

Does the Commission consider that

1.
to be
introduced at the end of August in Germany is in fact commensurate with the necessary volume of
investment in road building?

for the goods-vehicle toll

the basis of assessment

2.
How does the Commission react to the distortions of competition in the German transport industry
(and other branches of the economy) that will result from the significant increase in transport costs caused
by this new goods-vehicle toll?

Does the Commission stand by its rejection of the Federal Government’s intention to offset the
3.
impact of the goods-vehicle toll on German transport undertakings by way of a credit against the
petroleum tax?

Does the Commission anticipate any problems with an immediate reduction in the motor-vehicle tax

4.
levied on goods-vehicles in Germany to the minimum EU tax rate?

Does the Commission expect the new toll arrangements to put non-German transport undertakings

5.
transiting through Germany at a disadvantage?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2141/03 and P-2243/03
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 August 2003)

Germany has notified to the Commission its intention to introduce a toll reimbursement system
accompanied by the introduction of a mileage-based motorway user charge for heavy goods vehicles.
In this context, the attention of the Honourable Members is drawn to the decision of the Commission of
23 July 2003 to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty.

(2004/C 84 E/0017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2195/03

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Council

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Counterfeiting and piracy

It has been forecast that counterfeiting and piracy will cost EU companies with international activities
between EUR 400 and EUR 800 million per annum in the internal market and EUR 2 000 million outside
it. In addition, Member States suffer enormous loss of revenue from the smuggling of excised goods. Can
the Council give assurances that cooperation to deal with this problem will be discussed at forthcoming
meetings of Justice and Home Affairs and Internal Market Ministers?