WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2734/97 by Bryan CASSIDY to the Commission. Publication of Amsterdam Treaty in the Official Journal
17. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 82/133 Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1997) The Commission extends its deepest sympathy to the victims of the torrential rain and hail which flooded the town of Palencia (Castile-Leon) during the night of 15 July 1997. It is aware of the serious hardship suffered by the inhabitants of Palencia and the surrounding area, both in industrial and farming terms. With regard to emergency Community aid for the victims of disasters, the Commission would remind the Honourable Members that heading B4-3400 of the 1997 budget has not been allocated the funds with which any immediate action could be taken. (98/C 82/215) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2729/97 by Marianne Thyssen (PPE) to the Commission (30 July 1997) Subject: Compensation scheme for Dutch filling station managers on the Belgian and German borders It appears that on 23 July 1997 a scheme came into force for Dutch filling station managers on the Belgian and German borders which compensates them for the losses suffered from an increase in tax on petrol in the Netherlands. Can the Commission say whether this scheme, which is not generally applicable to the Netherlands but is geographically restricted to the border areas, is in line with European rules on competition? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (11 September 1997) The scheme referred to by the Honourable Member could constitute state aid under Article 92 of the EC Treaty and should › unless it meets the criteria of the de minimis rule currently in force (1) › be notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 93(3). The Commission was not, however, aware of the scheme. It has contacted the Member State concerned and will be certain to inform the Honourable Member of the results of its enquiries. (1) OJ C 68, 6. 3. 1996. (98/C 82/216) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2734/97 by Bryan Cassidy (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: Publication of Amsterdam Treaty in the Official Journal The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992. Publication of the integrated text of the Treaty of Maastricht and the Treaty of Rome was not in the Official Journal until 31 August 1992 (ref. C 224). This integrated text showed the changes arising from Maastricht in bold italic type. It was áuser-friendlyí. During this delay of 6 months, Ireland and Denmark held referenda. As a result of the delayed publication of the integrated text, citizens of those Member States were not as well informed as they should have been. Nor were national parliaments. When does the Commission propose to publish in the OJ the full integrated texts of the Treaties following Amsterdam?