WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4062/97 by Fernand HERMAN to the Commission. Medical treatment
22. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 196/69 Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (23 February 1998) With regard to the independence of the central bank: In accordance with Article 109j of the EC Treaty, the Commission will assess in its convergence report whether the statutes of the Banca díItalia are compatible with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty and with the Statute of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). Under Article 108, Each Member State shall ensure, at the latest at the date of establishment of the ESCB, that its national legislation including the statutes of its national central bank is compatible with this Treaty and the Statute of the ESCB. í Leaving aside the work under way within the Commission on assessing the statutes of the Banca díItalia, the Commission is not aware of any initiatives prejudicial to the independence of the Banca díItalia or of any plan by the Italian Government to replace its Governor. With regard to the need for structural reforms: In its latest annual economic report and in its broad economic policy guidelines, the Commission supported the idea of reducing the tax burden and speeding up structural reforms. Such a policy helps promote economic growth and hence job creation. These reforms are necessary in most Member States, irrespective of the introduction of the euro. Furthermore, in its conclusions regarding Italyís convergence programme, the Ecofin Council on 19 January 1998 welcomed first the major reforms launched or carried out by Italy since the July 1997 examination of the convergence programme, which looked at tax and budgetary procedures, and second the additional measures taken to reform the social security system in 1995. (98/C 196/94) WRITTEN QUESTION P-4054/97 by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission (15 December 1997) Subject: Net contribution by Netherlands in 1997 What is the expected amount of the Netherlandsí net contribution to the European Union budget in 1997? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (19 January 1998) The Commission does not produce estimates of budgetary balances, i. e. the difference between budget contributions to and budget expenditure received by the Member States. Consequently, no data for the budgetary position of the Netherlands in 1997, which the Honourable Member is seeking, is available. The reasons for the Commissionís position on this matter are discussed in detail in a document presented by the Commission to the EcoFin Council of 13 October 1997 entitled Budget contributions, EU expenditure, budgetary balances and relative prosperity of the Member States. This document is now available on the Europa site of the World Wide Web in the 11 official languages. (98/C 196/95) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4062/97 by Fernand Herman (PPE) to the Commission (14 January 1998) Subject: Medical treatment Regulation 1408/71 (1) on social security stipulates that the authorization to receive more effective treatment in another Member State cannot be denied to Union citizens if that treatment is not offered within a period which takes account of their age and state of health. In 1978 the Court of Justice confirmed that obligation (Case 117/177)