WRITTEN QUESTION E-0564/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Tax on profits.
C 26 E/62 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 The two streams near the site ü Taviano and Sorcella ü are subject to the environmental constraints of Law No 431/85 (the so-called Galasso Law) and the scheme would also ruin the Gabbianello ornithological lake project, which is nearing completion and which was funded by public money. Furthermore, the site is in an area at high risk of earthquakes, as many studies have shown, and the choice of site conflicts with the Italian Ministry of the Environmentís árules and guidelinesí on the choice of location for pits and landfill sites, published in 1993. Near the area, there is a medieval 13th century bridge which is already in a somewhat precarious state and which is governed by existing laws on the cultural and architectural heritage; there are also several listed historic buildings. Lastly, the site is in an áarea of great importance for rural tourismí (Regional Council Decision No 104/ 1989) and even though the Town Council of Barberino voted against the excavation of the pit, the project still seems to be going ahead. In the light of the above, what action does the Commission intend to take to ensure compliance with the numerous laws on the protection of the environment and the architectural heritage and town planning? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (7 April 2000) The project for the excavation of a large borrow pit in Galliano di Mugello (Florence) mentioned by the impact Honourable Member, falls within Annex II of both Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on environmental assessment (EIA) of certain private and public projects and Directive 97/11/EC (2) which modifies Directive 85/337/EEC. Directive 85/337/EEC establishes that certain public and private projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment, by virtue inter alia, of their nature, size or location, are made subject of an assessment with regard to their effects. Classes of projects covered by the directive are listed in the two Annexes. Article 4(2) states: Projects of the classes listed in Annex II shall be made subject to an assessment, in accordance with Articles 5 to 10, where Member States consider that their characteristics so require. Pursuant to Directive 97/11/EC, for projects listed in Annex II, Member States are obliged to determine, through a case-by-case examination, or thresholds or criteria set by the Member State, whether the project is to be made subject to an assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10. The EIA legislation of Regione Toscana (Legge Regionale 3 novembre 1998, n. 79) is stricter than the directives and provides that borrow pits are automatically made subject to an EIA procedure. An EIA procedure covers and assesses the environmental aspects mentioned by the Honourable Member. Given the lack of specific grounds of complaint on the application of the EIA procedure to the specific case, no breach of the two mentioned directives can be identified at present. (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985. (2) OJ L 73, 14. 3. 1997. (2001/C 26 E/076) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0564/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: Tax on profits Will the Commission indicate the percentage rate on company profits in each Member State and also indicate any estimates that have been made recently of the effective rate of such tax after allowing for exemptions and allowances in each Member State? 26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/63 Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (11 April 2000) At the moment, the Commission is not able to cite the data requested by the Honourable Member. However, following a mandate of the Council, the Commission is currently undertaking a study on the effective level of company taxation in the Member States. This study will be finalised in the second half of the current year. The report will contain information concerning the effective levels of corporate taxation in the Member States. These rates will be compared to the statutory rates. As far as other recent estimates are concerned, the Dutch government commissioned three studies in 1999 on the effective tax burden in the Community. These studies contain tables concerning the statutory rates and the effective rates and are available through Internet at http://www. minfin. nl/,select British flag, select átax competition in the European Unioní. (2001/C 26 E/077) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0569/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: Council secrecy Will the Council please name any other legislative body in any other state or legislative area, other than itself, which meets in secret with the results that those affected by a decision are unable to know the considerations that led to a decision, or which representatives on the legislature took which point of view? If it agrees that the only two such legislatures are those of Cuba and North Korea, how does it justify its practices being placed in the same category as two pariah states? (2001/C 26 E/078) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0571/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: Accountability Does the Council agree that it is an essential part of the democratic process for those affected by decisions to know how their representatives voted when such decisions were taken so that their electorates can hold them to account? (2001/C 26 E/079) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0572/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: Transparency How does the Council intend to implement the various commitments which it has given concerning EU transparency, particularly with regard to its own decisions?