WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2042/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Continual fines and charges imposed on Greek international road haulage operators
C 96/26 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 4. 1999 (1999/C 96/035) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2034/98 by Marie-Noºlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Reduction in working time (7 July 1998) How is it possible for the Commission to recommend in its document COM(98) 279 on the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and the Community that áa compulsory and across-the-board reduction in working time. (. ). may have adverse consequences and should therefore be avoidedí when it knows that two Member States have already decided to introduce a 35-hour working week? Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1998) The Commission has no intention of interfering in the policies of the Member States where these are purely a matter of national competence. It intends to abide by the principle of subsidiarity. However, the Commission is the guardian of the Community interest, including as regards economic policy. The European Council and the Ecofin Council have called on it to secure greater coordination of economic policies so as to guarantee the success of the single currency and a significant increase in employment in the Community. It was with this aim in mind that the Commission drew up its 1998 recommendation on the broad guidelines of economic policy. The Commission is therefore entitled to issue independent opinions on any economic policy initiatives which may have a marked effect on the Community economy as a whole or on the achievement of the objectives assigned to economic policy by Article 2 of the EC Treaty. A reduction in working time falls into that category. It is only natural therefore that the Commission should express its views on the matter, while abiding by the principle of subsidiarity. The Commission takes the view that the reduction in working time must not adversely affect the competitiveness of European firms. However, it is true that this general principle is not incompatible with national initiatives which adapt the reduction in working time with the aim of maintaining European competitiveness. (1999/C 96/036) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2042/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (7 July 1998) Subject: Continual fines and charges imposed on Greek international road haulage operators Greek international road hauliers are facing enormous problems in passing through the FYROM and Albania. The authorities of these countries are constantly imposing excess weight charges, exorbitant levies, decontamination levies etc. on Greek road hauliers, while hundreds of Bulgarian, FYROM and Albanian lorries (which are in a terrible condition) are allowed to move freely on Greeceís road network. transit Will the Commission say whether it is considering the possibility of making representations to the authorities of the countries which are continually causing problems for EU road hauliers (and singling out Greeks in particular) to cease adopting a provocative policy towards EU international road hauliers and constantly fining them, especially since these countries receive generous aid from the European Union? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1998) The imposition on Greek hauliers of transit and disinfection taxes in Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is principally made, for the time being under the terms of bilateral agreements or arrangements concluded between individual Member States and the third country in question