WRITTEN QUESTION No. 444/99 by José VALVERDE LÓPEZ Adjusting the definition of small and medium enterprises
C 348/70 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (1 April 1999) The obligation for American companies to declare their lobbying activities, including the amount they spend on such activities, derives from the registration system which applies to all organisations lobbying US federal bodies. This registration system is not compatible with the Commission’s approach, which is based on openness to all interest groups and guarantees them equal treatment while recommending that they apply a system of self- regulation. This being so, the Commission has no plans to adopt measures which would require a radical change of policy. (1999/C 348/088) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0444/99 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1999) Subject: Adjusting the definition of small and medium enterprises The Commission has submitted a proposal for a directive adjusting the financial thresholds used in defining small and medium enterprises in the context of European directives on accounting. The proposal will allow the Member States to establish exceptions with regard to obligatory financial information for a larger number of SMEs. What social partners and associations of SMEs and artisans were contacted in the course of preparing this proposal? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1999) The Fourth Council Directive 78/660/EC) of 25 July 1978 on the annual accounts of certain types of companies (1) allows Member States to exempt small and medium-sized companies from certain requirements of the Directive. Small and medium-sized companies are defined for the purposes of the Directive by reference to three criteria, i. e. balance sheet total, net turnover and average number of employees. The balance sheet total and net turnover amounts are expressed in Euro. In accordance with Article 53(2) of the Directive every five years the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, is to examine and, if need be, revise the amounts expressed in Euro. As the Directive stipulates that this five-yearly revision has to take place ‘in the light of economic and monetary trends in the Community’ there is no need for special consultation of social partners and associations of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The revision is of a purely technical nature and is based upon statistical figures. (1) OJ L 222, 14. 8. 1978. (1999/C 348/089) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0450/99 by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission (5 March 1999) Subject: Collapse of the ancient walls of Viterbo Controversy has arisen in Viterbo over reconstruction of the ancient walls, two stretches of which, measuring some dozens of metres, collapsed in January and March 1997. After so many months the reconstruction has