WRITTEN QUESTION E-2906/03 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Transposition of Directive 2001/97/EC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering.
Date: 2003-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, United Kingdom, accession to the European Union, fight against crime, financial institution, money laundering, national implementing measure, provision of services

C 70 E/162

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2906/03

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(1 October 2003)

Subject: Transposition of Directive 2001/97/EC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the

purpose of money laundering

Directive 2001/97/EC (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive
91/308/EEC (2) on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering came
into force on 4 December 2001. The deadline for transposition by Member States was 15 June 2003.

I understand that the directive has not yet been transposed in the United Kingdom.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. On what grounds the United Kingdom has not yet transposed the directive?

2. What other Member States have not yet transposed the directive?

3. What prospective Member States have not yet transposed the directive?

4. What it intends to do about this, especially in the case of the United Kingdom?

(1) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001, p. 76.
(2) OJ L 166, 28.6.1991, p. 77.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2003)

With regard to the first question, the Commission can inform the Honourable Member that on 16 July
2003 a letter of formal notice was sent to the United Kingdom on grounds that the United Kingdom had
failed to transpose the provisions of Directive 2001/97/EC (‘the Directive’) by 15 June 2003, the deadline
for compliance set out in Article 3 of the Directive. No response to the letter of formal notice has so far
been received.

Regarding the second question, the Commission can inform the Honourable Member that (besides the
Italy, Luxembourg and Portugal have not communicated
United Kingdom) Belgium, Greece, France,
implementing measures to the Commission and (cid:1) as far as the Commission is aware (cid:1) have not yet
transposed the Directive into national law. Austria has communicated measures which constitute a partial
implementation of the Directive.

Regarding the third question,
accession to complete their implementation.

it should be noted that the accession countries have until the date of

Regarding the fourth question, the Commission can ensure the Honourable Member that if the United
Kingdom or any other Member States should persist in delaying implementation of the Directive; the
Commission will pursue the infringement proceedings commenced. This being said, however,
the
Commission will take into consideration any information transmitted in the meantime by the Member
States which have failed to transpose the Directive.

(2004/C 70 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2914/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(29 September 2003)

Subject: Prodi goes beyond his powers in statements on Arafat

Why has Mr Prodi, going beyond his powers, stated in his capacity as President of the Commission that
the terrorist Arafat must be the EU’s interlocutor?

Are such statements not at odds with the provisions of Article 13 of the TEU, which clearly place
responsibility for foreign policy in the Council’s hands alone?