WRITTEN QUESTION E-3837/03 by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Privatisation of the Post Office Savings Bank.
Date: 2003-12-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, exchange of information, privatisation, savings bank

C 78 E/862

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Portuguese authorities offer in their regional and national Operational Programmes the following
possibilities:

(cid:1) ‘Support for investments in agricultural holdings’;

(cid:1) ‘Diversification in small-scale agriculture’.

These two measures can also support investments to comply with recently introduced environmental
standards.

Conservation of the environment and of natural resources

This measure foresees support
in area with
agricultural holdings and agro-industry, in particular for the pre-treatment of waste water from animal
husbandry and agro-industry.

for collective actions for environmental

improvement

Until 31 December 2002 the possibility existed to support investments to comply with standards, not
necessarily only recently introduced. Portugal made use of this possibility under the above mentioned
measure 2.

In addition, and subject to the measures available in the Portuguese agri-environment part of rural
development, farmers (including dairy farmers) who respect good farm practice, which includes respect for
statutory environmental requirements, and agree to undertake agri-environment measures are eligible for
support under this measure. It is primarily a matter for Portugal to draw up appropriate measures ensuring
they go beyond good farm practice.

The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy agreed in June 2003 enhances the support possibilities
under Rural Development. Firstly, additional Community funds generated by modulation of direct aids will
be available from 2006 onwards. The Member States can attribute a priority in the use of these funds, for
example, to support small and medium-sized farmers to improve their environmental performance.

Secondly, the maximum aid intensity for investments young farmers may undertake has been increased
thus opening further possibilities for this important group.

Thirdly, as regards support for meeting standards, i.e. in the area of environment, an additional measure
‘meeting standards’ has been introduced, providing for possibilities to partly cover farmers’ additional
operational cost resulting from the introduction of newly introduced standards.

A series of other measures has been introduced or enhanced with the reform. The Portuguese authorities
can adapt their Rural Development programming documents to take account of the new possibilities open
to them under the reform.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 78 E/0916)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3837/03

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Privatisation of the Post Office Savings Bank

(12 December 2003)

Acting on behalf of the Greek government, the Greek Finance Minister, Mr Christodoulakis, has announced
the decision to privatise the Post Office Savings Bank.

Has the Commission been informed about this matter by the Greek government?

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/863

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

As regards privatisation,
the EC Treaty
guarantees the neutrality of the Community concerning public or private ownership of undertakings. There
is no obligation for the Member States to inform the Commission of their intention to sell or to buy
undertakings, nor does the Commission ever require or impede privatisation of public undertakings.

the Commission notes that Article 295 (ex-Article 222) of

If the privatisation process involves the grant of State aids, Member States must inform the Commission in
accordance with the notification requirement of Article 87(3) of the EC Treaty.

The Greek authorities have not informed the Commission so far of any intention to grant State aids in the
framework of the privatisation of the Post Office Savings Bank.

(2004/C 78 E/0917)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3841/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject: Protection of the consumer interest under the new EU regulatory framework for electronic

communications (Directives 2002/20/EC, 2002/21/EC)

The Irish Commission for Communications Regulation, in response to consumer complaints about charge
increases and poor services, has stated that the advent of the new EU regulatory framework for electronic
communications (Directives 2002/20/EC (1), 2002/21/EC (2)) means that it is no longer the responsible
body in this area.

Could the Commission clarify the situation as regards the regulation of retail television operators under the
new regulatory framework? Is the Commission in contact with the Irish Government over the apparent
regulatory void that now exists in relation to retail broadcasting operators in Ireland? What action is it
proposing to take to ensure this matter is addressed?

(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2004)

The Irish authorities have notified the Commission that the Commission for Communications Regulation
(ComReg) is the designated national regulatory authority (NRA) in Ireland for the implementation of the
new Community regulatory framework on electronic communications networks and services. One of
ComReg’s responsibilities is, therefore, to ensure that users derive maximum benefit in terms of choice,
price and quality. More specifically, Directive 2002/22/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 March
2002 on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services,
obliges the NRA to ensure a high level of protection for consumers,
in particular by ensuring the
availability of simple and inexpensive dispute resolution procedures. It also contains a provision to ensure
that NRAs are able to require operators to publish comparable, adequate and up-to-date information on
the quality of their services.

As regards the specific question of retail television services, it must be stated that the regulation of the
provision of TV content services falls outside the scope of the new framework, including the consumer
protection measures referred to above. On the other hand, the provision of transmission services for
television signals is covered by the new framework. However, this does not automatically imply that
regulatory measures should be taken in a Member State in relation to the retail market for these
transmission services. The framework primarily addresses wholesale markets,
including the wholesale
broadcast transmission market, in order to ensure the promotion of competition and to ensure that users
derive maximum benefit in terms of choice, price and quality.