WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3183/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Differential pricing of newspapers
C 134/108 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 Leaving aside the Commissionís objections to the procedure for awarding the contract for the works, might it also review the problems involved in creating an environment-friendly and viable transport system in Thessaloniki as the city adapts to new circumstances? Might the Commission also use its influence to have the controversial ámetroí project replaced by a tram network covering the whole of the city, particularly as it is estimated that the overall cost of a complete network would basically be the same as for the metro-line of only 10 kilometres? Answer given by Mrs Wulf- Mathies on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1997) The 1994-99 Community support framework for Greece provides for the European Regional Development Fund to part-finance the Thessaloniki metro project only provided it can attract private capital (and is economically viable). The Commission is currently examining complaints from the participants in the international competition launched by the Greek authorities in 1993, on the basis of the Community legislation on the award of public contracts. Only once this examination has been completed will the Greek authorities be able to submit to the Commission a complete file for actual part-financing of the project. The possibility of combining (or replacing) the metro line with a tram network and the general question of how public transport is organised in Thessaloniki are matters for the authorities of the Member State to deal with. The Commissionís responsibility is to ensure that projects are carried out in compliance with Community policies. (98/C 134/140) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3183/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: Differential pricing of newspapers While one recognizes the need for a small additional charge for newspapers transported across Member State boundaries, would the Commission care to comment about the fact that the Independentí dated 16 September 1997 was priced at 20 pence in the United Kingdom, while in Strasbourg, the same newspaper was priced at 14 French Francs, the equivalent to £1. 40 at that dayís exchange rate. This represents a mark up of 750 per cent. Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1997) Unilateral decisions concerning the fixing of the price of newspapers, including price differences between Member States, are basically a matter for the free commercial choice of each publisher and are not, as a rule, prohibited under Community law. If the Commission were to establish the existence of restrictions or improper practices incompatible with the rules on competition and the operation of the single market, it would take all appropriate steps under the Treaty and would inform Parliament accordingly. The Commission in fact recently launched a survey to look at press distribution systems in all the Member States, how they interact across borders and how they affect price structures. It has now received the results of this survey and is in the process of analysing them