(2004/C 88 E/0361)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1576/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject:   EU-wide energy taxation

Following the recent agreement in the Council regarding the introduction of minimum energy taxation across the EU, what steps will the Commission now take to secure implementation of the agreement?

When does it plan to propose the necessary measures, and by when does it hope that they will be applied through the EU?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2003)

The Council unanimously reached a political agreement on the draft energy tax Directive on 23 March 2003. Supporting the view of the Commission, the Council decided on 9 April 2003 to reconsult the Parliament. This decision was adopted because the latest compromise is significantly different from the proposal presented by the Commission in 1997 (1). It is, therefore, important that the Parliament has the opportunity to give its opinion on the draft Directive.

The formal Council decision on the adoption of the energy tax Directive will only intervene after the Parliament has delivered its opinion.

The Commission is committed to helping Member States and Applicant Countries in their work for the transposition of the Directive. Technical meetings will be organised at services level to streamline the transposition process and secure a rapid high quality transposition.

The Directive will normally enter into force on 1 January 2004, with the exception of a few articles which apply retrospectively from 1 January 2003.

(1)  OJ C 139, 6.5.1997.