WRITTEN QUESTION E-0685/00 by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission. IGC.
C 46 E/28 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 (2001/C 46 E/032) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0685/00 by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: IGC How does the Commission distinguish between an áopen marketí and a ásocial market economyí? Does the Commission support a revision to the wording of Articles 4 and 98? Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission (11 May 2000) The distinction between an áopen marketí and a ásocial market economyí is, in the view of the Commission, that the former refers to the regulatory and institutional framework for the markets in which firms compete, while the latter denotes a guiding principle for economic policy in which governments may wish to adhere. Specifically, áopen marketsí mean that competition is free and without barriers to entry. By comparison, a ásocial market economyí embodies policy objectives as reflected in Article 2 of the EC Treaty, namely that a áharmonious, balanced, and sustainable development of economic activitiesí and a áhigh level of employment and of social protectioní should be promoted. Evidently, as in any other area of policymaking, a balance has to be struck between various objectives, but it is important to stress that there is no intrinsic contradiction between seeking to have an open market economy and the aspiration for an economy with a clear social dimension. The Presidency conclusions from the European Council in Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000 bear witness to the policy objective of making sure that economic and social policy goals are pursued in a coherent fashion. The Council has decided to monitor developments in the area of social protection and coherence as part of a broader monitoring effort which, in addition, covers employment, innovation and economic reform. The monitoring efforts underpin the objective of attaining economic progress and coherence by setting and pursuing policy targets, comparing best practice, and benchmarking structural indicators. It follows from this, that the objectives laid down in Articles 4 and 98 (ex Articles 3a and 102a) of the EC Treaty must be seen in the context of the EC Treaty as a whole and, consequently, the Commission sees no reason for modifying the wording of these articles. (2001/C 46 E/033) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0686/00 by BÆrbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: State aid from the Spanish Government to the electricity sector Does the Commission intend to approve the Costs of Transition to a competitive system for the Spanish electricity companies, which amount to ESP 1,3 billion? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (18 April 2000) As part of the liberalisation of the electricity market pursuant to European Parliament and Council Directive 96/92/EC of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (1), the Spanish authorities earmarked approx ESP 1 300 000 as compensation for the ácosts of transition to competitioní. On 29 January 1999 the Spanish authorities notified these measures under