91998E2303

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2303/98

by Fernand Herman (PPE) to the Commission

(22 July 1998)

Subject: Equal treatment for European Union citizens

Participants in a recent trip organized by a senior citizens' association noted that admission charges for museums - in this instance, the Doges' Palace in Venice - infringed the principle of equal treatment for all European citizens, as Italian pensioners were admitted free, whereas Belgian pensioners were not.

This is a blatant case of discrimination on the grounds of nationality, which is contrary to the Treaty. What does the Commission, as custodian of the treaties, intend to do to end discrimination of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 1998)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the inequality of treatment as between Italian residents and residents of other Member States regarding admission charges to museums might indeed constitute a form of discrimination that was in breach of Articles 6 and 59 of the EC Treaty. It will therefore contact the Italian authorities with a view to obtaining further information.

In a similar case the Court of Justice found that a Member State had failed to fulfil one of its obligations in connection with the imposition of an admission charge for museums in its territory(1).

(1) Case C-45/93 Commission v Spain [1994] ECRI, 911.