WRITTEN QUESTION E-2999/03 by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) to the Commission. Information brochure.
Date: 2003-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU publication, history of Europe

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/187

(2004/C 70 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/03

by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Inconsistent exemptions from tax in the UK

In the Member State which I know best, excise duty is levied on unleaded petrol which is used by craft
operated by sailing clubs in inland waters such as reservoirs or rivers (cid:1) whereas identical craft operating
in ports or coastal waters either do not have to pay this excise duty or, if they do, can claim it back again.

Is this a matter about which the Commission can do anything, or is it purely a question of national
government policy and of subsidiarity?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that according to Article 8 (1c) of Council
Directive 92/81/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on
mineral oils (1), Member States must exempt from the harmonised excise duty, under conditions they shall
lay down, mineral oils supplied for use as fuel by vessels other than private pleasure craft for the purposes
of navigation within Community waters. As far as taxation of mineral oils used as fuel by vessels
navigating on inland waterways for other than pleasure purposes is concerned, Article 8, paragraph 2(b) of
Directive 92/81/EEC leaves it to the discretion of the United Kingdom to decide, under certain conditions,
whether to apply a total or partial exemption in the rate of the harmonised excise duty on these fuels.

Additionally, the United Kingdom has received a specific authorisation from the Council, under Article 8
(4) Directive 92/81/EEC,
to apply until 31 December 2006 a partial or total exemption from the
harmonised excise duty to mineral oils used as fuel by private pleasure craft.

Based on the specific authorisation granted by the Council, the United Kingdom could extend this
exemption also to cover private pleasure crafts on inland waterways.

The Commission considers that the position of the United Kingdom authorities seems in line with the
provisions of the Community fiscal legislation in force and, therefore, that no specific action seems called
for on this issue. It should be noted that similar provisions have been agreed and appear in the new
Council Directive on taxation of energy products, which will replace Directive 92/81/EEC as from
1 January 2004.

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, pp. 12-15.

(2004/C 70 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2999/03

by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Information brochure

The Commission has recently published an information brochure entitled ‘Panorama of the European
Union’. Curiously to relate, this brief history of the European Union makes judicious reference to Robert
Schuman and the 9 May 1950 speech from which today’s Union grew, but it includes no mention of Jean
Monnet. All those involved at the time, and all historical research into the subject, show that Monnet was
the ‘inspirer’ of the Schuman Declaration.

How does the Commission explain this oversight? Does it agree that a word in tribute to the original
courage of the one in no way diminishes the courage of the other?

C 70 E/188

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 2003)

The Honourable Member is right to emphasise that any publication, however short, on the historical
origins of the Community should not pass over the name of Jean Monnet and the part he played in
inspiring Robert Schuman. This omission will be corrected in the online version (1) of the brochure
Panorama of the European Union immediately, and in the next printed edition.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/publications/booklets/eu_glance/20/index_fr.htm

(2004/C 70 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3001/03

by Marco Pannella (NI), Emma Bonino (NI),
Marco Cappato (NI), Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI), Benedetto Della Vedova (NI),
Olivier Dupuis (NI) and Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Repeated violations of

the basic human rights of

the Vietnamese highland people,

the

Montagnards

Knowing that:

(cid:1) on 2 August 2003 a policeman, Bui Quang Thuan, arrested Y-Tao Eban (b. 1979) in the village of
Buon Kdun because he was accused of having fed Y-Jon Enuol, who had been hiding in the area.
The policeman paid a number of Montagnards who work for the police (Y-Kren, b. 1945; Y-Dialm
Eban, b. 1960; Y-Hoc Eban, b. 1952; Y-Jam Eban, b. 1958; Y-Sot Buon Ya, b. 1956; Y-Wik Nie,
b. 1945; Y-Suai Enuol, b. 1945; Y-Hue Buon Ya, b. 1946) to beat up Y-Tao Eban. After being tortured
the man was forced to sign a statement admitting that he had acquired a weapon to fight the
Vietnamese regime;

(cid:1) the Vietnamese Government had arrested 11 people from the village of Buon Kdun and imprisoned
them. They had been forced to sign a statement claiming that Y-Jon Enuol had bought a pistol with
the aim of threatening the regime. The people arrested were: Y-Nam Nie, b. 1986, imprisoned on
imprisoned on 4 August 2003; Y-Huan Enuol, b. 1983,
3 August 2003; Y-Wer Enuol, b. 1973,
imprisoned on 5 August 2003; H’Nge Nie, b. 1963,
imprisoned on 6 August 2003; H’Gir Eban,
b. 1976, imprisoned on 7 August 2003; H’Tanyan Enuol, b. 1981, imprisoned on 7 August 2003;
Y-Duol Buonya, b. 1975, imprisoned on 8 August 2003; H’Bi Nie, b. 1960, imprisoned on 8 August
2003; and H’Prin Enuol, b. 1978, imprisoned on 18 August 2003;

(cid:1) on 6 August 2003 Vietnamese officials

imprisoned three people accused of

supporting the

Montagnard Foundation Inc. and the Transnational Radical Party.

The Commission:

(cid:1) Does itintend to seek clarifications from the Vietnamese Government as to the reasons for arresting

Montagnards?

(cid:1) Will

it bring pressure to bear on the Vietnamese authorities to ensure that they allow UNHCR
inspectors and NGOs free access to the Vietnamese central highlands and the areas bordering
Cambodia?

(cid:1) Should the Vietnamese Government fail to take such action, does the Commission intend to denounce

the cooperation agreement signed with Vietnam?