WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1911/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. XXVth report on competition policy
C 60/66 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 2. 98 The Commission is aware of the difficulties sometimes encountered by insurance intermediaries when operating on a cross-border basis. It has therefore decided to address the issues. In the Commission communication (3) Financial services: enhancing consumer confidenceí, the Commission specifically undertakes to review the 1976 Directive and the extent of implementation of the principles set out in the 1991 Recommendation, before the middle of 1998. The Commission will consider whether further steps are needed, including the possibility of widening the scope of the Directive in respect of the access and exercise of the profession. (1) OJ L 26, 31. 1. 1977. (2) OJ L 19, 28. 1. 1992. (3) Communication from Mr Monti and Mrs Bonino to the Commission Financial services: Enhancing consumer confidenceí. The be adopted on 25 June 1997, COM(97). (98/C 60/99) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1911/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (4 June 1997) Subject: XXVth report on competition policy With reference to the XXVth report on competition policy (1995)í (COM(96) 0126 final) and the ádraft Commission notice on cooperation between national competition authorities and the Commission in handling cases falling within the scope of Articles 85 or 86 of the EC Treatyí (1), the Revision of Regulation 4064/89 (2) has now reached the more concrete stage of a draft. Whilst a reduction in threshold is preferable, consideration could also be given to favouring possible alternatives based on ámultipleí notifications. In addition to the problem of áthresholdsí, the revision of Regulation 4064/89 raises the question of Community undertakings of a áwholly cooperativeí nature. Will the Commission ensure maximum clarity on this matter to prevent damaging uncertainty and equally harmful discrimination and will it note that a suitable solution is also needed for the other Community undertakings of a ástructuralí nature? (1) OJ C 262, 10. 9. 1996, p. 5. (2) OJ L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (23 June 1997) The Commission takes the view that the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (Merger Reg- ulation) (1) represents a substantial improvement in the way in which joint ventures are dealt with. Under this proposal, all full-function joint ventures (that is, all those which perform on a lasting basis all the functions of an autonomous economic entity) which meet the thresholds establishing the Community dimension of a merger will henceforth be analysed within the framework and subject to the procedures and deadlines of the Merger Reg- ulation. This analysis will include, where necessary, an assessment of coordination between the founding firms, applying the criteria laid down in Article 85(1) and (3) of the EC Treaty. This approach received explicit support from Parliament on 13 November 1996 (2) and was endorsed by the Council on 24 April 1997. Moreover, in order to reinforce firms’ legal certainty, there are plans to clarify, by means of a statement by the Commission, the matter of full-function joint ventures which do not meet the threshold establishing a Community dimension and to deal with the distinction between full-function joint ventures and other joint ventures by casting the Commission notice regarding the distinction between concentrative and cooperative joint ventures under Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (3). (1) OJ C 350, 21. 11. 1996, COM(96) 313 final. (2) Cf. the Legislative Resolution embodying the opinion of the European Parliament on the proposal for a Council Regulation(EC) amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (OJ 362, 2. 12. 1996) and the Resolution on Community merger control: the Commission’s Green Paper on the review of the Merger Regulation (OJ C 362, 2. 12. 1996). (3) OJ C 385, 31. 12. 1994