WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2744/98 by Bartho PRONK to the Commission. Discrimination against EU citizens in the enforcement of the Linking Act in the Netherlands
C 118/132 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (13 October 1998) According to the EC Treaty (Article 105a 1), the issuance of euro banknotes is the competence of the European central bank (ECB) and the National central banks (NCBs), the ECB having the exclusive right to authorise the issue of such banknotes. The technical preparation of euro banknotes was supervised by the European monetary institute (EMI) until the creation of the ECB (on 1 June 1998) and by the ECB since then. According to the information from the ECB, thirteen Member States have their own banknote printing works. The two Member States which do not have their own printing works buy their banknotes from European commercial security printers. As decided by the governing council of the ECB in June 1998, the production of euro banknotes for the initial supply is going to take place at national level on the basis of the same printing works, with the possibility of exceptional bilateral pooling arrangements for the production of some denominations for which the volume needed would be very low. The competence for issuing coins lies with the Member States (Article 105 a 2). The national mints will be in charge of minting the euro coins. Therefore, given that the bulk of production will take place at national level, the transport of euro banknotes and coin, and consequently the associated risks and costs, will be limited. (1999/C 118/164) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2744/98 by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission (3 September 1998) Subject: Discrimination against EU citizens in the enforcement of the Linking Act in the Netherlands The Linking Act (Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 1998, 203) has been in force in the Netherlands since 1 July 1998. Although the Netherlands recognizes that beneficiary EU citizens derive their right of residence directly from European law, EU citizens must present a residence document or registration sticker if they wish to gain access to the basic municipal register. Registration in the basic municipal register is necessary if access is to be gained to Dutch administrative bodies. These requirements are set out in the instructions of 28 April 1998 issued by the head of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service to the chief constables. 1. Is the Commission aware of this Act and these instructions? 2. Does the Commission believe that this Act and its enforcement by means of the instructions that have been issued may constitute prohibited discrimination against EU citizens within the meaning of Article 6 of the EC Treaty? 3. Does the Commission also believe that the documentation required of EU citizens as a result of this Act or the implications of this requirement are inconsistent with the free movement of workers within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) 1612/68 (1)? 4. If so, what action does the Commission plan to take? (1) OJ L 257, 19. 10. 1968, p. 2