WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3001/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. Status of public banks
29. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 118/175 (1999/C 118/222) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3000/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Data searches of Austrian banks The Commission, in its capacity as the authority with responsibility for competition, is currently going through data removed during searches of Austrian banks. Cartel cases are known to take a very long time. Can the Commission nevertheless give an approximate future time frame for these proceedings? If so, what is the timetable? When can concrete results be expected? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1998) The Honourable Member will appreciate that, as a matter of principle, the Commission is not in a position to comment on pending proceedings. This equally applies to questions regarding expected developments in the future. (1999/C 118/223) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3001/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Status of public banks The Commission is currently engaged in an investigation of the status of public-law banks which receive State guarantees. It was called upon in the Amsterdam Treaty to do so, and is complying with this instruction. 1. Can the Commission say at this stage when the results of the investigation can be expected? In how many, and which, Member States has the Commission encountered unjustified advantages 2. arising from State guarantees, and how does it intend to proceed further? Against 3. Declaration by Luxembourg and Austria on credit institutionsí? the background of its investigations to date, how does the Commission view the 4. Does the declaration have any concrete effect on Austriaís situation? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1998) The Commission has completed the examination and adopted the report on 17 June 1998. It aims to 1. present the report to the Ecofin Council at its meeting on 23 November 1998. 2. The report deals with the question of which services within the banking sector are regarded by the Member States as áservices of general economic interestí pursuant to Article 90 (2) of the EC Treaty and to what extent compensation facilities are granted for their procurement. The report does not address in particular the compatibility with the EC Treaty of state guarantees in favour of certain banks