WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1082/98 by Jean-Antoine GIANSILY to the Commission. The future of small cafés and bars in rural areas
C 402/72 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 12. 98 Joint answer to Written Questions E-1079/98, E-1080/98 and E-1081/98 given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (8 May 1998) The wide ranging consultation on the green paper on vertical restraints in Community competition policy (1) terminated in a public hearing on 6 and 7 October 1997. During the consultation process 227 written submissions were received by the Commission. The Commission has analysed the vast amount of information obtained during the consultation exercise. A policy paper will be proposed to the Commission for adoption in the course of this year which will set out the Commissionís proposal for a new policy in the field of vertical restraints. It is as yet too early to comment on the possible content of this policy paper and the Commission is not, at this stage, in a position to inform the Honourable Member whether it is envisaged to extend the existing block exemption regulations or whether any new policy would involve a greater use of market shares. Following the adoption of a policy paper, work will commence on any necessary legislative changes. The adoption of new legislation in the field of vertical restraints will follow the normal legislative procedure which includes a number of consultations both of institutions, Member States and interested parties. This legislative process is likely to take until the end of 1999. (1) COM(96) 721 final. (98/C 402/089) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1082/98 by Jean-Antoine Giansily (UPE) to the Commission (7 April 1998) Subject: The future of small cafØs and bars in rural areas The press has recently reported that the Commission is funding small village cafØs in deprived areas of the South of France under its Leader programme (the Community initiative for rural development). This seems admirable, given that local cafØs help maintain the social, economic and cultural life of the EUís rural areas and assist the tourist trade. Local cafØs also indubitably help prevent alcohol abuse by providing a social setting that encourages moderation rather than excess. That being so, does the Commission agree that it is paradoxical that, at a time when DG VI is supporting cafØs by means of the Structural Funds, another directorate-general, DG IV, is in danger of closing them down by considering the possibility, in the Green Paper on Vertical Restraints in EC Competition Policy, of withdrawing or restricting the opportunities allowed to the main brewers whose market share exceeds a given threshold to finance cafØs by means of exclusive purchasing agreements? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 May 1998) The Honourable Member has drawn the Commissionís attention to the connections between the Community Leader II Initiative and the Green Paper on vertical restraints in EU competition policy (1). As regards the Green Paper, the Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to the answers given to his written questions E-1079/98, 1080/98 and 1081/98