Brussels, 21/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - When adopting the report by Salvador Garriga Polledo (EPP-ED, Spain) on Wednesday in Strasbourg on a modification of the 1976 Directive on mutual aid in terms of recovering agricultural and customs debts, the European Parliament challenged the legal base proposed by the Council (Articles 93 and 94 of the Treaty on fiscal measures, which require the European Parliament to be consulted) (see EUROPE of 28 April, p. 14; for details).
MEPs point out that Article 95 of the Treaty would be the appropriate legal base since the proposal concerns the establishment of the internal market and does not concern the definition of those liable nor fixing the level of tax. The Parliament is hereby confirming the opinion it delivered in first reading (end of May 1999) and is calling on the Council to forward it the Council's Common Position. The 1976 Directive contains procedural measures for facilitating the process of requesting information for recovery purposes from different Member States. The Commission's proposal is designed to accelerate these procedures and clarify the scope of application of the Directive.