WRITTEN QUESTION No. 942/98 by Allan MACARTNEY to the Commission. 'Ship-shaped' production facilities for oil exploration
11. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 386/61 (98/C 386/078) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0941/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Swingeing taxation on used lorries imported into Greece The Greek authorities intend to impose swingeing taxes on used lorries imported into Greece, even recent models fitted with EURO II-type engines. The new high level of taxation which is proposed (íspecial registration taxí) will mean an excessive increase in the cost of used vehicles and in particular of lorries over 3. 5 tonnes in weight. The Greek Government calculates the value of imported vehicles taking into account not the import invoice, but the retail sale value of a new lorry, subject to an annual depreciation which reaches 52 % after six years. Will the Commission give its official views on this new swingeing taxation for used lorries and on the fact that the Greek authorities seem unwilling to accept import invoices for lorries (which are clearly official Community tax documents) but intend to take the retail sales price of new lorries as a basis for their calculations? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1998) The Commission has asked the Member State concerned for information regarding the facts raised to by the Honourable Member. It will inform him of its findings. (98/C 386/079) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0942/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Ship-shapedí production facilities for oil exploration Does the Council Directive of 17 September 1990 on the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and telecommunications sector cover íship-shapedí production facilities for oil exploration? Given the revised OECD Understanding on Export Credits for Ships which came into force in 1996, would such floating vessels be eligible for EU subsidies? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (5 June 1998) The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible