WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1916/97 by David HALLAM to the Commission. Discrimination against persons on the grounds of height
C 21/120 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 1. 98 A second proposal for a regulation dealing with procedural issues relating to aid is currently being drawn up. This regulation will, of course, play a major role in enhancing transparency. It will also contain provisions relating to the rights of third parties. As to the relationship between competition policy and cohesion policy, the Commission has always sought to take account as far as possible of the objective of cohesion when defining aid policy. Furthermore, it is currently drafting a new set of guidelines on regional aid. (98/C 21/232) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1916/97 by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission (27 May 1997) Subject: Discrimination against persons on the grounds of height Does the Commission have any plans or proposed measures to deal with discrimination against tall people in the provision of goods and services? Does the Commission consider that tall persons should be able to pre-book airline seats with legroom commensurate with their needs, subject to provision of evidence of their height to the airline? Would the Commission agree that the policy of many airlines, to advise tall people that they should fly Business or First Class, amounts to a financial penalty for being tall and that consideration should be given by both the EU, the airlines and tall and short persons NGOs as to how to mitigate the financial penalties imposed on people because of their height? In setting its standards, does the Commission agree that the European Union should reconsider endorsement of the CENís use of historical anthropometric data, where it may not take account of current or future needs? As the populations of Europe vary significantly in average height, does the Commission not agree that the EU should seek to enforce ranges of appropriate standards, rather than single unsatisfactory ones? Would the Commission consider that the CEN should be advised to seek the cooperation of groups representing tall and short people when setting standards? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (24 June 1997) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1118/97 by Mr Ilaskivi (1). The Commission has no plans to propose special measures in relation to tall people in the provision of goods and services, just as it has no plans for measures relating to small or to overweight people. The Commission recognises that tall people may choose to ensure adequate space by flying in business or first class, but does not consider this any more a financial penalty than a tall person deciding to buy a large car rather than a small one. The Commission considers this matter is best left to airlines to meet demands of the market place as they see fit. The Commission does not see the relevance of reference to the European committee for standardisation (CEN) in the context of this question. (1) OJ C 367, 4. 12. 1997