WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3225/97 by Bárbara DÜHRKOP DÜHRKOP to the Commission. Fisheries agreement with Morocco and surveillance
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/117 However, Article 1. 3 of Directive 91/439/EEC stipulates that: á Where the holder of a valid national driving licence takes up normal residence in a Member State other than that which issued the licence, the host Member State may apply to the holder of the licences its national rules on the period of validity of the licences, medical checks and tax arrangements and may enter on the licence any information indispensable for administration á. Holders of licences who take up normal residence in a Member State other than the one in which a licence was issued, therefore have to comply with the national rules of that Member State as they are applied to the nationals of that Member State. (1) OJ L 237, 24. 8. 1991. (2) OJ L 375, 31. 12. 1985. (98/C 134/153) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3223/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: French postal charges The French Post Officeís charges for items of mail of the same size and weight vary according to the EU Member State to which they are addressed. It costs more to send mail to Finland and Sweden, for example, than elsewhere. Harmonization of postal charges is a principle which has been endorsed throughout the territory of the Union by means of international agreements and general practice, and the French Post Officeís discriminatory charges constitute a gross violation of it. Does the Commission consider Franceís discriminatory policy acceptable, and does it accord with European Union legislation? What will the Commission do to put an end to the discrimination practised by France? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1997) The French Post Office does indeed charge different rates for sending items of mail to Finland and Sweden than to the other Member States. It would appear that France has not redefined its postal tariff zones since 1995 and the accession of those Member States. On the other hand, no international agreement obliges postal operators to charge the same rates for all the Member States of the Community. The Council Resolution of 7 February 1994 on the development of Community postal services (1) and the common position of 29 April 1997 with a view to adopting the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service (2) indicate that tariff principles must be cost-related. If the difference in charges is justified by higher costs the Commission cannot consider this to be a case of unfair discrimination. (1) OJ C 48, 16. 12. 1994. (2) OJ C 188, 19. 6. 1997. (98/C 134/154) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3225/97 by Ba·rbara Du¤ hrkop Du¤hrkop (PSE) to the Commission (9 October 1997) Subject: Fisheries agreement with Morocco and surveillance In its answer to Written Question P-2712/97 the Commission forgot to state its views on the monitoring and detection system used by Moroccan surveillance vessels, and to say whether it offers technical guarantees and conforms to approved international standards. What can the Commission say on the subject?