WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2046/97 by Jean-Yves LE GALLOU to the Commission. Community financial assistance for ECAS
25. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 60/85 2. Directive 92/82/EEC on the approximation of the rates of excise duties on mineral oil requires that every two years, Council shall examine the rates of duty laid down in that Directive on the basis of a report from the Commission and, where appropriate, after consulting the Parliament, shall adopt the necessary measures. The first such report was submitted in September 1995 (1). This concluded that, before any legislative proposals were submitted, a wide ranging consultation should be carried out. 3. Further to this consultation process and in response to an invitation from the Council, the Commission has now submitted proposals for a global approach to the taxation of energy products (2). These proposals seek to improve the functioning of the internal market by the use of a phased increase in minimum duty rates on mineral oils designed to lead to greater approximation of national rates. It should, however, be noted that excise duty represents only part of the cost of the fuel and even if duty rates were totally harmonised there would still be substantial differences in the retail prices paid by consumers in different Member States due to differences in production, transport and marketing costs. (1) COM(95) 285. (2) OJ C 139, 6. 4. 1997. (98/C 60/122) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2046/97 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (13 June 1997) Subject: Community financial assistance for ECAS On 5 and 6 May 1997, ECAS (Euro Citizen Action Service) organized a seminar in Brussels on European citizenship. Did the Commission provide any financial assistance for the organization of this seminar, and if so, what amount was involved? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (8 September 1997) The Commission made a financial contribution of ECU 26 200 to the organisation of the Conference on EU Citizenship by the Euro Citizen Action Service (ECAS) on 5 and 6 May 1997. This Commission contribution covered 50% of the total cost of the seminar, which focused on the central role of the citizen, one of the Community’s information priorities. (98/C 60/123) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2049/97 by Magda Aelvoet (V) to the Commission (13 June 1997) Subject: Quality of Belgian development aid Is the Commission aware that a special committee has been set up by the Belgian parliament to look into the way development aid is spent by, or through the offices of, the development aid authority? If so, is it also aware that the supervisory body is currently looking into allegations of fraud involving development aid concerning 24 projects and programmes? These include: › Malawi Railways Ltd. : supply of five shunter engines with spare parts; › a desalination plant in Mindelo (Cape Verde);