WRITTEN QUESTION E-0899/04 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Larger Member State representation on the ECB board.
Date: 2004-03-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Central Bank, appointment of staff, operation of the Institutions

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/549

(2004/C 88 E/0559)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0899/04

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Larger Member State representation on the ECB board

(24 March 2004)

Will the Commission comment on recent allegations in the Financial Times (8 March 2004) which claim
that Germany, Italy, France and Spain are attempting to set a precedent for larger Member States to always
have representation on the European Central Bank’s six-member board? Could such a situation ever be
allowed to occur? And if so, under what circumstances?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

The rules and the procedure for the appointment of the members of the Executive Board of the European
Central Bank (ECB) are laid down in Article 112(2)(b) EC as well as in Article 11(2) of the Statute of the
European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. The decision is taken by common
accord (i.e. unanimity without abstention) of the governments of the Member States at the level of Heads
of State or Government. The decision is based on a recommendation from the Council, while both the
European Parliament and the Governing Council of the ECB are consulted. It should be noted that only the
Member States belonging to the euro area are entitled to take part in the relevant decisions of the Council
and the Governments according to Article 122(4) of the EC Treaty.

The EC Treaty imposes two requirements for the selection of the members of the Executive Board. Firstly,
they shall be appointed from among persons of recognised standing and professional experience in
monetary and banking matters. Secondly, they shall be nationals of participating Member States. The
members of
in a personal capacity as opposed to acting as
representatives of their country of origin. Any notion of representation of Member States would therefore
not be in line with the rules and principles governing the appointment of the members of the Executive
Board.

the Executive Board moreover act

(2004/C 88 E/0560)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0918/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(26 March 2004)

Subject: Random motor insurance checks in Ireland on vehicles from other Member States

What reply, if any, did the Commission receive from Ireland in response to the reasoned opinion that it
sent to Ireland in July 2001 (as announced in press release IP/01/1101) regarding Ireland’s practice of
making random insurance checks on vehicles from other Member States, thereby possibly infringing the
First Motor Insurance Directive (72/166/EEC (1))? What subsequent action did the Commission take, or is
still considering taking, with regard to this matter?

(1) OJ L 103, 2.5.1972, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

Following the reasoned opinion sent by the Commission on 26 July 2001, Ireland has come into line with
Community law by amending its legislation. In view of the Commission’s concerns on the matter, Ireland
agreed to replace the administrative arrangements providing for the implementation of Article 2(1) of the
first Motor Insurance Directive (1) with regulations on a statutory basis. This provision abolished the checks
on green cards for vehicles normally based in a Member State entering the territory of another
Member State with a view to facilitating the free movement of vehicles and persons within the EU.