92000E0287

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0287/00

by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: EU number plates in Switzerland

In point 3 of his reply to my question E-4110/98(1) Commissioner Kinnock states that the Commission has asked the Swiss authorities to recognise the distinguishing sign. Member States will be informed as soon as the Commission gets a reply from the Swiss authorities. In the meantime I have learned through informal channels that about a year ago the Swiss authorities sent a letter to their police and customs services explaining that cars with EU number plates no longer require a separate country sticker.

1. Is the Commission aware of this letter, and does this constitute the recognition referred to in point 3?

2. Have the Member States been informed of this recognition?

(1) OJ C 325, 12.11.1999, p. 56.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

1. In their letter of 11 February 1999 the Swiss authorities informed the Commission that they were prepared to recognise the distinctive nationality marks issued by the state of registration of motor vehicles and their trailers in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered(1).

2. The Member States were informed of that recognition by means of a letter to the offices of their permanent representatives dated 9 March 1999.

(1) OJ L 299, 10.11.1998.