WRITTEN QUESTION P-2786/03 by Manuel dos Santos (PSE) to the Commission. Revision of the stability and growth programme.
Date: 2003-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European accounting system, Eurostat, Portugal, budget deficit, management accounting, powers of the institutions (EU), public finance, report, stability pact, supplementary pension

C 65 E/218

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

Moreover, the employer, as provided in this Directive, should keep a list of occupational accidents
resulting in a worker being unfit for work for more than three working days. The same Directive
establishes that the employer shall draw up, for the responsible authorities and in accordance with national
laws and/or practices, reports on occupational accidents suffered by his workers.

Several other health and safety Directives have a role in occupational accident prevention. For example:
Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum health and safety
requirements for the workplace (2) and Council Directive 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning
the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (2).

As the Honourable Member is aware, Union Directives on health and safety at work have to be transposed
into national law. It is the responsibility of national authorities to ensure adequate controls and supervision
of the implementation of the national legislation. The Commission does not enjoy any powers in the field
law, or in relation to compensation schemes in case of occupational accidents, which fall
of criminal
entirely within the responsibility of national authorities.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.

(2004/C 65 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2786/03

by Manuel dos Santos (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 2003)

Subject: Revision of the stability and growth programme

The Portuguese authorities recently made a public announcement to the effect that the Commission had
been notified of a budget deficit for the current year equivalent to 2,944 % of GDP.

This percentage was achieved only through the inclusion of exceptional revenue, an operation which
evidently cannot be repeated.

Such revenue includes the Government’s intention to incorporate the CTT pension fund into state revenue,
amounting to around EUR 930 million, or 0,7 % of GDP.

It appears that authorisation for this financial operation has already been requested from the Commission.

The Commission:

1. Can it confirm that it has received a request from the Portuguese Government for authorisation for

this financial operation?

2. Was this request supported by an opinion from the General Retirement Fund on the long-term impact

of transferring the corresponding social obligations to the State?

3. Has any announcement been made to the effect that an independent capitalisation fund is to be set up

to guarantee the obligations taken on by the State as a result of this transfer operation?

4. Has a Eurostat opinion been drawn up on the matter, and if so, has this opinion already been

forwarded to the Portuguese Government?

5.

If authorisation is granted for this revenue to be included in the calculations, will the Commission
make it subject to any conditions? If so, what conditions will apply?

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/219

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(13 Oktober 2003)

On 1 September 2003, Portugal reported to the Commission that their planned government deficit for
2003 was 2,9 % of the gross domestic product (GDP). Moreover, the Portuguese authorities informed that
this projection includes receipts of EUR 930 million (equivalent to 0,7 % of GDP) to be paid by the public
enterprise CTT to Caixa Geral de Aposentações (the civil servants social insurance scheme). This payment
is in exchange of the transfer of pension responsibility vis-à-vis the CTT employees that have civil servant
status.

The deficit figures that are reported by the Member States to the Commission, and which are the basis for
assessing the respect of the Stability and Growth Pact, should be established according to the rules of the
European System of National and Regional Accounts (or ESA95) (1). When the ESA95 rules do not cover
any specific transaction, the respective accounting treatment is decided by Eurostat, on behalf of the
Commission, in accordance with the Code of Best Practice on the compilation and reporting of data in the
context of the excessive deficit procedure adopted by the Council on 18 February 2003. The procedure
leading to the decision on the accounting treatment usually involves the creation of a small technical task
force and the consultation of the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payment Statistics
(CMFB). This procedure can be initiated either at the request of Member States, or by the Commission
(Eurostat).

ESA95 does not provide clear guidance on the accounting treatment of transactions which involve lump-
sum payments to government in exchange of the transfer of the responsibility for future pension systems.
Therefore, in April 2003, it was decided to clarify the accounting treatment of these operations and to
launch the above-described procedure. A task force (cid:1) which included one representative of the Portuguese
statistical institute (cid:1) met in June 2003 and the CMFB will be consulted shortly. Although no date has been
announced, the decision on the accounting treatment of these transactions will be made public this
autumn.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and regional accounts in

the Community, OJ L 310, 30.11.1996.

(2004/C 65 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2798/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Dorette Corbey (PSE)
and Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Electrical safety of caravans

According to two reports in the Algemeen Dagblad (6 and 8 September 2003), electrical installations in
most caravans do not comply with European safety requirements. The CE inspection stamp is lacking in
34 brands of caravans out of 40. Altogether, there are 433 000 touring caravans in the Netherlands. The
most common faults are the absence of earth leakage circuit breakers, inadequately ventilated converters,
faultily installed or unprotected electrical wiring, and connectors. As a result, situations can arise which are
very dangerous for people (cid:1) especially children (cid:1) inside caravans.

Does the Commission agree that non-compliance with Directive 93/68/EEC (1)
Netherlands and other Member States?

is common in the

To what extent
installations, and what may the consequences be if accidents occur?

is the product

liability directive applicable to caravans with such faulty electrical

Are checks carried out in the various Member States to ascertain whether Directive 93/68/EEC and other
relevant legislation is complied with? If so, how and by whom?