WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3321/97 by Joaquín SISÓ CRUELLAS to the Commission. Television and the deaf in Europe
C 134/136 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 (98/C 134/181) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3317/97 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (20 October 1997) Subject: Disposal of used catalytic converters Some years have elapsed since Greece decided to promote the use of vehicles fitted with catalytic converters, and hundreds of thousands of such vehicles are already on the roads. The time has now come for many of these vehicles to change this equipment. In its reply to a previous question (1808/96) (1), the Commission stated that áa proposal is being prepared on end of life vehicles, (but) the preparatory work in relation to this proposal has not been completedí. Will the Commission state, one year after providing the above answer, whether the preparatory work in relation to the proposal on end of life vehicles has been completed, whether the converters which are being removed from end of life vehicles pose a threat to the environment and public health and whether it has any information regarding the disposal of used catalytic converters in Greece? (1) OJ C 385, 19. 12. 1996, p. 41. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1997) The preparatory work mentioned by the Commission in its answer to written question 1808/96 by Mr Papayannakis has been completed and a proposal for a directive on end of life vehicles was adopted by the Commission on 9 July 1997 (1). This contains measures in the field of prevention of waste from end of life vehicles, collection of end of life vehicles, their treatment, recycling, and recovery, as well as monitoring and information. In particular, it lays down quantified targets for the re-use, recycling and recovery of end of life vehicles. In the light of the potential threat posed by used catalytic converters to the environment and public health, the proposal requires Member States to ensure that vehicles are stripped before any further treatment. This includes the environmentally safe removal and storage of catalytic converters with a view to their recycling. The proposal does not contain a specific recycling obligation for catalytic converters but lays down recovery and recycling requirements for the entire vehicle. In particular, it requires Member States to ensure that, by 2005, 85% of the vehicleís weight is reused or recovered (95% by 2015) and 80% is reused or recycled (85% by 2015). At present the Commission does not have any information concerning the disposal of used catalytic converters in Greece. (1) COM(97) 358 final. (98/C 134/182) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3321/97 by Joaqu ·n Siso· Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission (20 October 1997) Subject: Television and the deaf in Europe Television is becoming increasingly important as a means of communication and source of entertainment for the deaf. There are no real technical problems preventing its adaptation to the needs of those with hearing problems, although there are great differences in the way and the extent to which this is being done in the various Member States of the Union. Can the Commission say whether any kind of aid is allocated to ensure that European television companies can broadcast more programmes suitable for the deaf population?