WRITTEN QUESTION No. 227/99 by Ulf HOLM to the Commission. Arms export rules
15. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 297/151 Two other projects which will be wholly funded by the Commission concern the legal and institutional framework, restructuring of companies in the energy sector and support for the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum’s ad hoc working parties on energy policy, interconnections and economic analysis. (1999/C 297/206) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/99 by Sören Wibe (PSE) to the Commission (3 February 1999) Subject: ESCB secrecy rules In its review of how Member States had fulfilled the convergence criteria, the Commission took the view that the Swedish central bank (Riksbank) would have to change its secrecy rules in order meet ESCB requirements. The Riksbank has since moved in totally the opposite direction. It now publishes the minutes of its meetings immediately, and members of its management board may freely discuss monetary policy issues and express their personal views on such matters. Can such openness be maintained if Sweden participates in EMU and the Riksbank thus becomes part of the ESCB, or must Sweden tighten up the Riksbank’s rules on secrecy, as the Commission has argued? Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (10 March 1999) In its convergence report of 25 March 1998 (1), the Commission did not express the specific opinion that present legislation in Sweden regarding confidentiality for the Riksbank is incompatible with the requirements of the EC Treaty. The Commission noted in the convergence report that the draft legislation at this moment did not ensure full integration of the Riksbank in the European system of central banks (ESCB). Such integration would require adaptation of a number of provisions in the Riksbank’s Statute as well as modifications to procedures and working methods of the Riksbank. This draft legislation was adopted at the end of 1998 without changes. In the view of the Commission, one aspect of the integration of national central banks in the ESCB is that Member States are obliged to respect the confidentiality regime under Article 38 of the ESCB Statute. (1) COM(98) 1999 final. (1999/C 297/207) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0227/99 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission (3 February 1999) Subject: Arms export rules The German Presidency has proposed legally binding rules on arms exports. It is not yet clear whether these rules will be minimum rules and allow individual Member States to set more stringent standards, or will be aimed at achieving harmonisation and so apply to all Member States. What is the Commission’s position on common minimum rules and harmonised rules respectively in relation to arms exports? Which of the two options does it recommend? If it favours harmonisation, what level does it consider appropriate for such harmonised rules?