WRITTEN QUESTION P-0062/00 by Evelyne Gebhardt (PSE) to the Commission. Increase in air fares.
C 280 E/166 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (17 February 2000) the choice of cultural and ethnic categories on equal As the Honourable Member will be aware, opportunities forms is not in itself the subject of Community law. However, Directive 95/46/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (1) expressly prohibits the processing of personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade- union membership, and the processing of data concerning health or sex life. This prohibition is lifted in a number of limited circumstances, including where the consent of the individual concerned has been given. Subject to the conditions laid down in that Directive, the Commission believes that the collection of statistical information on discrimination related to racial and ethnic origin, whether real or presumed, can make a useful contribution to ensuring equality of treatment and opportunity. The proposal for a Council decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006), adopted by the Commission on 25 November 1999 (2), includes a strand devoted to the collection and analysis of data related to discrimination on the grounds covered by the programme, including racial and ethnic origin. As regards the particular categories to be used in such monitoring, the Commission believes that this should be left to the particular Member States concerned, given the existence of different minority ethnic groups in the different Member States. The Commission cannot in any case comment on the choices made in the internal documents of political parties. (1) OJ L 281, 23. 11. 1995. (2) COM(99) 567 final. (2000/C 280 E/189) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0062/00 by Evelyne Gebhardt (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Increase in air fares Is the European Commission aware that 1. the major European airlines, acting in unison, have terminated their current agency contracts with travel agencies and offered them new contracts involving lower agency fees, those fees being in every case identical? 2. Is it also aware that the travel agencies have offset the consequent reduction in their revenue by levying a new átransaction feeí on travellers who, being final consumers, are therefore unable to avoid a hidden and mutually agreed increase in air fares? 3. Does the Commission share my view that, although travellers may circumvent this increase in air fares by booking with the airlines directly, they must, if they do so, put up with poorer service and accept that a large number of jobs in travel agencies may be lost? 4. Does the European Commission consider that such price agreements, the cost of which is ultimately paid by the final consumer and which jeopardise the job security of people working in travel agencies, are compatible with current European law? When, and how, will the Commission intervene if there has been a breach of Community law or if even the slightest whiff of suspicion exists that Community law has been breached? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (17 February 2000) The Commission informs the Honourable Member that it has been actively studying the relationship between airlines and travel agents. In a recent competition law decision (1) the Commission set out its policy on the commissions paid by airlines to travel agents. One of the facts established in this decision 3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/167 was that British Airways had reduced the basic commission paid to travel agents in the United Kingdom, and introduced a new scheme by which travel agents could earn extra commission by meeting certain targets. The decision found that these supplementary commission schemes were abuses of British Airwaysí dominant position on the United Kingdom market for travel agents services. These commission schemes secured the loyalty of travel agents rather than being given in return for extra services from the travel agents or cost savings realised by British Airways. Several complaints have been received of similar behaviour by other Community airlines. The Commission is taking all measures necessary to ensure that the principles in the British Airways decision are applied to other Community airlines in equivalent situations. However the Commission does not currently have evidence that airlines have colluded to lower their basic commissions simultaneously. Also it does not have any indication that the majority of travel agents are introducing the átransaction levyí described in a concerted fashion. As a result it is not clear that the áincrease in air faresí described is taking place. The Commissionís efforts have been focussed on the new supplementary commission schemes introduced by some airlines which allow travel agents to compensate for the reduction in basic commission. The Commission has no view on the relative merits of direct purchases of air tickets by consumers and purchase through travel agents. The Commission shares the Honourable Memberís concern that the relationship between some airlines and travel agents could have serious negative effects on other airlines, travel agents and ultimately on consumers. Current actions are designed to ensure that the relevant principles of European law are respected, protecting against these negative effects. (1) Commission Decision 1999/1973/EC British Airways, not yet published. (2000/C 280 E/190) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0063/00 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Reduction of VAT on repairs to historic buildings Could the Commission clarify whether the Directive 1999/85/EC (1), providing for an experimental reduced rate of VAT for selected labour-intensive services, has in any way affected the Commissionís position regarding the reduction of VAT on repairs to historic buildings? Could the Commission also clarify the position regarding the reduction of VAT on repairs to historic buildings? (1) OJ L 277, 28. 10. 1999, p. 34. Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (17 February 2000) In principle, current Community legislation does not allow Member States to apply reduced rates of VAT to services consisting of repairs to historic buildings as such. Council Directive 1999/85/EC of 22 October 1999 amending Directive 77/388/EEC as regards the possibility of applying on an experimental basis a reduced VAT rate on labour-intensive services (1) allows Member States that have submitted an appropriate request to apply reduced rates to labour-intensive services on an experimental basis from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002, on condition, of course,