WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3037/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Heightism
C 117/132 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 (98/C 117/176) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3035/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Charging of heavy goods vehicles With reference to the Proposal for a Council directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (COM(96) 331 final › 96/0182 SYN) (1), whilst road tolls reflect the application of the principle of territoriality, combining them with vehicle taxes and excise duties results in dual taxation. Will the Commission therefore bring about the abolition of these tolls in the long term? New technology, particularly electronic pricing, should make it possible to avoid dual taxation while at the same time improving the flow of traffic. (1) OJ C 59, 26. 2. 1997, p. 9. Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1997) The Commission considers the nature and objectives of fuel excise duties and vehicle taxes and of road tolls to be different. For this reason it does not accept the assertion that their simultaneous application constitutes double taxation. Moreover, the Commission believes that road tolls, being directly linked to the costs caused by the vehicles when and where they are actually driven, are an appropriate charging instrument to use in pursuit of an efficient transport system. The application of advanced road using technology which allows payment without vehicles having to slow down or stop, and permits differentiation of rates that is related to underlying costs is expected to contribute further to the improvement of the transport system as a whole. (98/C 117/177) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3037/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Heightism It is absurd that, as Europe approaches the year 2000 and after 50 years of efforts by the European Community to eradicate discrimination on grounds of sex, race, ethnic and social origin, disability, sexual preference, religious belief, etc. , cases of discrimination on grounds of height are occurring. In Italy, a new graduate in medicine made a standard application to perform his military service at the Scuola degli Allievi Ufficiali di Complemento (AUC) [School of Official Reserve Cadets]. However he was rejected because, at 1m 63 cm, he was not tall enough to meet the arbitrary height requirement of 1m 65 cm. As proof of the new recruitís aptitude, he was enlisted as a private soldier in the parachute corps. Will the Commission approach the Member States to ensure that serious cases of this nature, in which the equal rights of citizens are denied, never occur again? (The doctor in question is Dr. Andrea Pomesano of Bergamo). Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1997) The Commission does not have the authority to deal with the matter raised by the Honourable Member. As Community law stands, the Member States bear sole responsibility for all matters relating to military service