WRITTEN QUESTION E-0697/04 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission. State aid to credit unions.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, control of State aid, credit union, regional aid, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 84 E/846

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission is approaching use of sex-based actuarial factors in second and third pillar pension
schemes on a step-by-step basis. The question of the use of sex-based actuarial factors in second pillar
pension schemes was considered by the Commission, Parliament and Council in 1986 in the context of
Directive 86/378/EEC, and again in 1996 in the context of Directive 96/97/EC. On each occasion,
the outcome has been that the use of such factors should continue to be permitted. At present, the
Commission is continuing with the discussions in the Council in relation to third pillar pensions covered
by its proposal based on Article 13 EC. Therefore, the Commission does not consider it would be
appropriate to propose a revised version of Directive 86/378/EEC addressing second pillar pensions at this
stage while those discussions in relation to third pillar pensions are continuing.

(1) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.

(2004/C 84 E/0939)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0694/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Auditing the Commission’s external activity

Point 61 of EP report A5-0040/2004 calls on the Internal Audit Service (IAS) to make an assessment of
the legality and regularity of contracts made and subsidies granted by these [sic] services.

Can the Commission confirm whether funding carried out by the EDF is included in the contracts which
are going to be audited by the IAS under this point?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2004)

The Internal Audit Service (IAS) is currently finalising its audit of the Europe Aid and Co-operation Office
(AIDCO) Directorate-General in line with the objectives of the Reform White Paper.

One of the objectives of the audit was the examination of the AIDCO financial circuits for commitments
and payments for European Development Funds (EDF) resources, made after the entry into force of the
new 9th EDF Financial Regulation and within the effective devolution framework. The non-devolved
delegations were not specifically addressed and the parameters were also set so as to avoid duplication
with the ongoing separate but parallel evaluation of the devolution process.

(2004/C 84 E/0940)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0697/04

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: State aid to credit unions

Can the Commission confirm what are the State aid regulations for small credit unions serving identified
local areas?

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/847

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

State aid to credit unions serving identified local areas is subject to the general State Aid regulatory
framework and case law, if the conditions set out in Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty are fulfilled. As the
features of credit unions differ in terms of their membership, activities, products, scale and purpose, it is
important to assess the schemes on a case by case basis.

Aid granted to credit unions would have to be examined under the relevant State aid rules, for example
Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of
the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (1) or the Commission Guidelines on
national regional aid. It should also be reminded that, according to Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/
2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid (1),
financial support granted to an undertaking up to an amount of EUR 100 000 over a period of three years
is not considered to be state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.

Where it is found that Credit Unions are deemed to provide a service of general economic interest and
receive State aid for the compensation of
for
compatibility would be carried out to assess whether the derogation provided for under Article 86(2) may
be applied.

the net extra costs of such services, an assessment

The above is intended to provide an overview of the process that may be applied to credit unions in so far
as an examination for State Aid is concerned.

(1) OJ L 10, 13.1.2001.

(2004/C 84 E/0941)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0698/04

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Tinned food and olive oil

(9 March 2004)

The Community’s Mediterranean countries are the world’s largest olive oil producers. This sensitive
product, one of the Mediterranean area’s major agricultural crops, is used for a considerable range of
preserved, semi-preserved and prepared fish and seafood, either as the liquid in which these products are
preserved, or as an ingredient, since it has significant nutritional qualities, and on foreign markets, has
become a synonym for quality and healthy eating.

The production costs faced by Community businesses are much higher than those of their third country
competitors. If the elimination of reimbursements for the production of olive oil for preserving purposes
persists, will the EU reduce or suspend custom duties on imported olive oil, so that Community businesses
can continue to compete with their third country counterparts on an equal footing?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

The Community accounts for 80 % of world olive oil production and intra-Community trade in olive oil
makes up the bulk of the world olive oil trade. The international reference prices for olive oil are
determined in the Community. Thus Community manufacturers of food products using olive oil have the
advantage of operating where the biggest supply of olive oil
in the world is to be found. In these
circumstances reducing customs duty on olive oil to be used by food manufacturers would be unjustified
when the market is operating in its normal way.