WRITTEN QUESTION E-4010/03 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission. Safeguarding electricity supplies.
Date: 2004-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, electrical energy, energy supply, security of supply, services of general interest, universal service

C 88 E/480

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2004)

As it promised to do in its holding answer to the Honourable Member’s Written Question E-3982/03 (1),
the Commission approached the Greek authorities on 17 February 2004 for information about the facts to
which the Honourable Member refers.

In their reply, which reached the Commission on 30 March, the Greek authorities make the following
observations:

(cid:1) the Rainbow Party’s congress was not prevented by outside persons or organisations. On 7 December
a small march protesting against the planned holding of the congress did take place in the streets in
the centre of Edessa. The march caused no disturbance or threat to public order, so that there was no
need for action on the part of the police present. The demonstrators did not move in the direction of
the place where the congress was to take place;

(cid:1) on both of the dates announced, namely 30 November and 7 December 2003, the police authorities
had taken all necessary steps to ensure the smooth running of the congress. In both cases measures
had been taken the day before the congress was to be held in order to be able to deal with any
protests;

(cid:1) the postponement of the Rainbow Party congress is not due to any danger involved in holding it, or
to allegedly inadequate action on the part of the Greek authorities to ensure that it proceeded
regularly. In the past the Rainbow Party has held meetings and events in the town of Florina without
the slightest incident;

(cid:1) in reality the postponements of the congress are thought to be due to commercial differences with

hotels regarding the final cost of the organisation of the congress.

The Commission considers the explanations given by the Greek authorities to be satisfactory.

The Commission would also inform the Honourable Member that the Greek authorities have protested
against the use of the expression ‘the Macedonian minority’. They stressed that there is no minority of that
name in Greece. They say that there are people living in West Macedonia who in addition to Greek also
speak a local Slavic dialect. Only a few of these want to see themselves recognised as a national minority.
The appropriation of the word ‘Macedonian’ to designate these people is a source of semantic and cultural
confusion, because the term is used exclusively to refer to those Greeks who originate in Macedonia, of
whom there are about two million.

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004, p. 888.

(2004/C 88 E/0493)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4010/03

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2004)

Subject: Safeguarding electricity supplies

The directive concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (2003/54/EC (1)) was adopted
on 26 June 2003. Its preamble (particularly Recitals 23, 24 and 26) stresses security of supply, protection
of vulnerable customers and maintaining public service standards.

What practical measures has the Commission taken to ensure that Member States comply with their
obligations as referred to above? A particular concern, especially in wintertime, is security of supply. The
widespread and protracted power cuts in the past year have demonstrated the vulnerability of the existing
networks.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/481

How will the Commission ensure that a fully operational internal market in the field of electricity networks
does not render operations increasingly unreliable?

(1) OJ L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 37.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2004)

The issue of security of supply is a crucial issue for the successful operation of the internal market. This
applies equally for the maintenance and the increase of public service levels and the protection of
vulnerable customers. These issues are, therefore, given great emphasis in the new Electricity Directive
2003/54/EC (1), which requires Member States to monitor the demand/supply balance in their electricity
systems and to provide for the necessary fall back mechanisms which they can use should the market not
be able to guarantee security of supply.

Member States are now implementing this Directive into their national legislation. The Commission will
evaluate whether they have complied with their obligations on these issues when national legislation is
notified to it. Should a Member State fail to implement the Directive correctly, the Commission will
commence an infringement procedure. However,
the Commission expects that Member States will
faithfully transpose the Directive. The Commission will in any event carry out a process of benchmarking
and comparison of the approaches taken by Member States to promote best practice among the Member
States.

Furthermore, on 10 December 2003 the Commission published a proposal for a Directive concerning
measures to safeguard security of electricity supply and infrastructure investment (2). This proposal intends
to ensure that Member States have a clear security of supply policy established in advance to ensure
regulatory stability and a clear apportioning of responsibilities. In addition, it seeks to guarantee that the
necessary investments in cross border infrastructure will be made to ensure both security of supply and the
full development of competition throughout the internal market.

(1) Directive 2003/54/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 concerning common rules for the
internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 96/92/EC (cid:1) Statements made with regard to decommissioning
and waste management activities.

(2) COM(2003) 740 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0494)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4027/03

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Capital gains tax deductions

In calculating capital gains tax to be paid on the proceeds of selling a domestic property, in France the cost
of improvements to the property can be deducted from the total tax payable.

Does this still apply if the work to improve the property is carried out by a British firm and paid for in UK
Sterling?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2004)

This question is a matter for the French Government and not
for the Commission. There is no
harmonisation of direct taxes within the European Union and Member States are free to establish their
own tax laws (cid:1) provided, of course, that they comply with the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the
Treaty creating the European Union.