92000E0522

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0522/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Subject: Procedure followed by Poste Italiane SpA for the award of contracts for mail delivery services

Does the Commission intend to take steps to check the regularity of the procedures for the award of contracts followed by Poste Italiane SpA, the Italian postal services provider, with particular reference to the priority mail service?

Last year the agreement with the Italian state railways on the distribution of freight by rail was discontinued. Can the Commission state whether the new transport service providers were chosen on the basis of a regular call for tenders in line with the procedures laid down by Community legislation?

The strategy of integrating environmental policies into other Community policies is a priority for the European Union, as established in the Treaty of Amsterdam. The European Union has undertaken to reduce CO2 emissions, as required by the Kyoto Convention.

Does the Commission consider that, wherever possible and providing the same standards of efficiency are assured, preference should be given to rail rather than road transport?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 2000)

The Commission has no knowledge of any alleged infringements of Community procurement law that would allow it to approach the Italian authorities in order to check the regularity of procedures for the award of contracts mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission would therefore be particularly grateful if the Honourable Member could forward any information she has on the subject. The Commission will launch an investigation on the basis of this information to assess whether any infringements of Community law on public contracts have occurred, and to take any necessary measures laid down in the EC Treaty in order to ensure that the procedure in question complies with Community law on public contracts.

Current Commission policy in the rail sector aims to give rail transport a competitive position in the transport market by creating a framework which will allow it to compete on equal terms with other modes of transport.