Problems in the cross-frontier labour market as a result of a Danish registration tax for official vehicles

15.3.2001

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/01
by Wilhelm Piecyk (PSE), Reimer Böge (PPE-DE) and Christian von Boetticher (PPE-DE)
to the Commission

A registration tax for official vehicles in Denmark seems to be causing considerable problems in the cross-frontier labour market between Germany and Denmark.

 

For example, a German elderly persons’ care worker resident in Denmark with a German place of employment is required by Danish law to pay a registration tax for an official car that she uses solely for professional purposes but has to park outside her home in case of emergency calls.

 

According to our information a group of about 150 people are affected by similar cases in the cross-frontier labour market between Germany and Denmark.

 

At DKK 60 per day, the tax is so steep that the group of employees is placed at a disadvantage compared with their colleagues living in Germany.

 

Since the tax may also be creating obstacles to employment that go against the aim of promoting a cross-frontier labour market, the following questions arise.

 

1. Does the Commission believe that this state of affairs is compatible with freedom of movement in the European Union?

 

2. What action has it taken or does it intend to take to solve this problem?

OJ C 318 E, 13/11/2001