WRITTEN QUESTION No. 789/98 by Wilmya ZIMMERMANN to the Council. European public holiday on 9 May
2. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 304/157 (98/C 304/239) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0776/98 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission (5 March 1998) Subject: French legislation on liberalization of the electricity market A number of Member States are amending their laws on the production and distribution of electricity in connection with the liberalization of the electricity market. 1. Is the Commission aware that France is preparing, or has already adopted, changes to the law in which the áre·seau díalimentation ge·ne·rale en e·nergie e·lectriqueí is assumed to be the property of Electricite· de France (EDF) since it owns the concession for this supply system? Can the Commission look into whether the concession which EDF has had from the French state hitherto 2. provides for ownership of the electricity grid passing to EDF on termination of the concession? 3. If this is not the case, does the Commission feel that the purpose of this amendment to the law is to increase the EDFís own assets by transferring ownership of the electricity grid free of charge, thereby placing EDF in a favourable competitive position on a liberalized electricity market? 4. If so, is this a form of state aid compatible with the EEC Treaty? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (26 March 1998) The Commission is not aware of a draft law by which the French authorities would transfer the ownership of the electricity distribution network to Electricite· de France (EDF) at the expiry of the concession. The transfer of this network from the state to EDF without any appropriate transfer price might unduly increase the total assets of EDF, thus granting an economic advantage to the undertaking. The Commission will investigate the circumstances reported in order to assess whether they are compatible with the provisions of the EC Treaty. (98/C 304/240) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0789/98 by Wilmya Zimmermann (PSE) to the Council (16 March 1998) Subject: European public holiday on 9 May The Commission has made clear inter alia through its Citizens First Initiative, the need for greater efforts to encourage European citizens to identify themselves with the European Union. The introduction of the single currency will of course be an important step in this direction. However, identification with the European Union could also be achieved very well by means of a common public holiday. This would create a further unifying symbol for all European citizens in addition to the European flag and the European anthem. The date 9 May suggests itself (one day after the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, and the day on which Robert Schuman made his declaration in 1950 which led to the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community). 1. Has the Council yet drafted any proposals to this effect? 2. What is its position on the proposal to introduce the European public holiday by holding joint events in the Member States on 9 May 2000?