(2004/C 33 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1252/03

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject:   Common European packaging return scheme

European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC (1) refers to the need to harmonise national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste in order to prevent or reduce its impact on the environment, thus providing a high level of environmental protection, and to ensure the functioning of the internal market and to avoid obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of competition within the Community.

Since this directive was adopted, various packaging return schemes have been set up in some Member States, including Denmark where Dansk Retursystem A/S uses a deposit system to ensure re-collection of the packaging of beer and some soft drinks. In practice, however, this system, which was introduced to protect the environment, has first and foremost closed the Danish market to imports of foreign beer.

Does the Commission therefore intend to submit a proposal for a common, uniform and harmonised deposit system applicable to all Member States in order to prevent effectively technical obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of competition?

(1)  OJ L 365, 31.12.1994, p. 10.