WRITTEN QUESTION E-0793/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Electricity generation from peat ‐ public service obligations.
C 374 E/156 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 The limits set out include: ü for non-irrigated crops: 2,5 hectares ü for tobacco: 0,5 hectares + quota Since many Greek agricultural holdings are in mountain regions, it follows logically that the above minimum areas per farmer are rare exceptions. As a rule, in the mountain regions of Greece very few hectares are used for non-irrigated crops and even fewer for tobacco. The result of this state of affairs is that many farmers who fall within the spirit of the regulation may not be included in the programme because their crops do not cover the minimum area laid down. 1. Does the Commission consider that areas of this kind, which are excessive in the case of large numbers of Greek farmers, are in keeping with the objective of Regulations (EEC) No 2079/92 and (EC) No 1257/1999? 2. Is the Commission prepared to advocate the following criteria, to be applicable only to mountain regions of Greece: 0,5 hectares for non-irrigated crops and a simple quota, irrespective of land area, for tobacco? 3. For the purposes of the application of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, does the Commission propose to collaborate with the Greek Government to ensure that farmers in mountain regions, who are already at a disadvantage, are not put in a worse position through the deficient application in Greece of EU regulations which are supposed to be applied for their benefit? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 April 2000) Article 6(3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2079/92 (1) stipulates that the size of the agricultural holdings 1. resulting from the transfer of land released by the transferor (i. e. the farmer taking early retirement) must be increased so as to improve their economic viability. The successorís holding must be economically viable. Articles 10 and 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (2) contain the same requirement. The Commission therefore takes the view that granting early retirement aid to a farmer whose holding is too small jeopardises the economic viability of the holding transferred to the successor. 2. That is why the Commission is not prepared to see the minimum size of the transferred holding reduced below an economically viable threshold, account also being taken of the other contributory factors which define this viability concept. The Commission intends to work together with the Greek Government on negotiating the rural 3. development plan which Greece has submitted under Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, in order to determine the implementation requirements for the future early retirement scheme ü including of course the parameters for ensuring the economic viability of agricultural holdings resulting from the transfer of land. (1) OJ L 215, 30. 7. 1992. (2) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 374 E/185) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0793/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 March 2000) Subject: Electricity generation from peat ü public service obligations With reference to the new framework for further restructuring and liberalising the electricity market in Ireland, including the construction of two new peat plants, would the Commission outline the arrange- ments for public service obligations in relation to future electricity generation from peat? 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/157 Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (11 April 2000) The Irish authorities have recently confirmed that they intend to notify to the Commission the setting up of a new support mechanism for peat in Ireland. Upon receipt of this notification, the Commission will examine the compatibility of the proposed support mechanism with Community rules on state aids. In the framework of such examination, the Commission will study the Irish arrangements for public service obligations and security of supply in relation to future electricity generation by peat. This analysis will take into account the recent legal developments for the liberalisation of the European electricity market. (2000/C 374 E/186) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/00 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 March 2000) Subject: Vehicle registration tax Given the current anomaly in Ireland where VRT can amount to 25 % of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of a new car, and given that consumers throughout Europe pay VAT on the purchase of a new Ireland for what appears to be the car, will imposition of double taxation on Irish car buyers? the Commission consider taking some action against Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (27 April 2000) The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that under Community law as it stands the Member States may impose taxes other than VAT on vehicles. Article 33 of the Sixth VAT Directive itself (77/388/EEC) (1) expressly provides for this possibility: Without prejudice to other Community provisions, ( ) the provisions of this Directive shall not prevent a Member State from maintaining or introducing ( ) any taxes, duties or charges which cannot be characterised as turnover taxes, provided however that those taxes, duties or charges do not, in trade between Member States, give rise to formalities connected with the crossing of frontiers. The tax to which the Honourable Member refers is not similar to VAT and does not give rise to formalities connected with the crossing of frontiers. It should, however, be pointed out that while the Member States are free to impose taxes on cars, they should nonetheless obey the established legal principle requiring them to take into account the deprecia- tion of second-hand vehicles originating in other Member States when applying the tax. Moreover, under Directive 83/183/CEE on tax exemptions applicable to permanent imports from a Member State of the personal property of individuals (2), cars registered in a Member State following a move from another Member State must be exempted from all consumption taxes. The Commission is currently preparing a study assessing the scale of distortion of the internal market caused by the lack of harmonisation of taxes on vehicles across the Community. The Commission also intends to launch a discussion with the administrations of the Member States and other Community institutions this year on future options for Community action on vehicle taxation. (1) OJ L 145, 13. 6. 1977. (2) OJ L 105, 23. 4. 1983