WRITTEN QUESTION No. 226/98 by Armelle GUINEBERTIERE to the Commission. Community derogation for tax reduction on fuels used by fire and emergency services
9. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 310/41 (98/C 310/49) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0394/98 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission (24 February 1998) Subject: Use of Structural Funds resources to achieve compliance with the Maastricht Criteria Mr Friedmann, President of the Court of Auditors, recently remarked that Spain and Portugal were using Structural Funds resources to achieve compliance with the Maastrich Criteria. Is there any concrete evidence to suggest that Member States are using money from the Structural Funds to achieve compliance with the Maastricht Criteria? If so, what is it? If not, how can Mr Friedmannís statement be explained? Have inquiries been made into this matter? What were the findings of any such investigations by the Court of Auditors? Joint answer to Written Questions E-0219/98 and E-0394/98 given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (22 April 1998) The Commission has no information on investigations carried out by the Court of auditors on this subject, nor any other evidence which would support the statement attributed to the President of the Court of auditors. (98/C 310/50) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0226/98 by Armelle Guinebertie‘re (UPE) to the Commission (13 February 1998) Subject: Community derogation for tax reduction on fuels used by fire and emergency services At present, local authorities are responsible for financing both investment and operating costs of departmental fire services. This represents a substantial financial burden, at a time when tax on fuels is increasing and is therefore affecting the operation of fire and emergency services. These services are exempted from road tax requirements; they should also be granted a tax reduction on fuel. However, the French Government considers that such tax reductions for fire services are not applied in any other EU Member State and that such a request for a Community derogation, which would require unanimous approval, is not in line with the aim of harmonizing tax within the EU. How does the Commission view the idea of introducing measures to reduce tax on fuel used by fire and emergency services? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1998) The taxation of mineral oils in the Community is governed by the provisions of Council Directive 92/81/EEC on the harmonization of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils (1). That Directive contains no Community provision which allows specific exemptions or reductions in duty for public service vehicles such as those mentioned by the Honourable Member. However, it is possible for a Member State to request a derogation using the procedure set out in Article 8(4) of the same Directive. Any such request is subject to approval by the Commission and all other Member States