WRITTEN QUESTION No. 609/98 by Riitta MYLLER to the Commission. Comparative survey of the Union's transport costs
22. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 402/19 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1998) The Commission report on Council Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons will be finalised as soon as possible, once the recent transposal measures adopted by the three new Member States have been taken into account. The second part of the question is the subject of Question E-201/98 by Mr Hager (1). The Honourable Member is referred to the Commissionís answer to that question. (1) See page 6. (98/C 402/023) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0609/98 by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission (9 March 1998) Subject: Comparative survey of the Unionís transport costs One of the main objectives of European integration is to increase the European Unionís competitiveness on world markets, particularly in relation to the United States and Japan. In addition to production and material costs, one factor which affects competitiveness is transport costs. Transport also has an environmental aspect, which should be taken into account in all action in accordance with the principle of sustainable development. I would ask the appropriate member of the Commission whether the Commission has carried out a survey of transport costs as a percentage of the costs of the EUís external trade and in comparison to the cost structures of the USA and Japan, and whether, on the basis of any such survey, the Commission intends to take measures to increase the share of water transport within the EU? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1998) The Commission naturally considers the competitiveness of European industry to be essential for Europeís future commercial success. The costs of transport › both to shippers and to society as a whole › are essential determinants of competitiveness and the Commission therefore intends to publish a Communication on benchmarking in transport at the end of 1998. A comparative cost survey has, however, not been undertaken. The Commissionís policy on promoting intra-European maritime transport as part of its sustainable mobility strategy is outlined in the Communication on The development of short sea shipping in Europe: prospects and challengesí (1) which sets out a number of practical measures to be taken at various levels, in particular by the maritime industries themselves, to promote short sea shipping. The promotion of short sea shipping is an integral part of other Community activities, such as the trans-European transport networks, the PACT programme for combined transport and the fourth framework programme for research and development, which contribute to the development of waterborne transport. Another essential link in improving waterborne transport within the Community is the efficiency of its sea ports. In its green paper on Sea ports and maritime infrastructureí (2) the Commission identified an improvement of port efficiency as a key objective of a Community ports policy. Consultations on that document are now proceeding. (1) COM(95) 317 final. (2) COM(97) 678 final