Brussels, 30/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is to pronounce itself this Wednesday on the possibility of sending Germany a default notice regarding its deposit system for bottles and cans. Last January, Germany brought in an obligatory 25 cent deposit system for all non-recyclable vessels (as opposed to 8 to 15 cents for recyclable ones). On 1 October, a system for the collection of plastic bottles and cans was due to be brought in.
The Commission is divided between those who, like Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, feel that this system limits the free circulation of goods, and those in its favour, such as Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallström. The Commission hopes to be reassured that the system "will not be applied in such a way as to dissuade consumers from buying drinks imported from other Member States", commented Jonathan Todd, spokesperson for Commissioner Bolkestein. For reasons of logistics, almost 90% of imported drinks are delivered in plastic bottles, he emphasised.
Last July, Commission President Romano Prodi wrote to Chancellor Schröder to ask him to suspend this system (see EUROPE of 24 July, p.7). Commissioner Bolkestein spoke about this again on Monday with German Environment Minister, Jürgen Trittin.