WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2950/97 by Florus WIJSENBEEK to the Commission. European Train Control System (ETCS)
C 117/110 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 the tasks of the centre of information, reflection and exchange on asylum (CIREA). This working group of the Council prepares joint reports on the assessment of the situations in third countries based on contributions of the Member States (3). CIREA also normally invites representative of the UNHCR to participate in those assessments. The Commission takes full part in all CIREA deliberations. (1) Joint position of 4 March 1996 defined by the Council on the basis of Article K. 3 of the EC Treaty on the harmonized application of the definition of the term írefugeeí in Article 1 of the Geneva convention of 28 July 1951 relating to the status of refugees (OJ L 63/2, 13. 3. 1996). (2) OJ C 319/1, 26. 10. 1996. (3) See the second report on the activities of CIREA in OJ C 274, 19. 9. 1996. (98/C 117/140) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2949/97 by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997) Subject: Rail infrastructure Is the Commission aware that major differences in maximum axle load exist for different national rail infrastructures? Will the Commission make proposals, in connection with the proposal on freight freeways and with the Trans-European Networks, to harmonize maximum axle loads and loading-gauges, so to eliminate this technical obstacle to European rail transport? If so, what maximum axle load and what loading-gauge does the Commission envisage? If not, why does the Commission not believe that there is any need for harmonization? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (4 November 1997) The Commission is aware of the variety of national rail infrastructures throughout the Community, which include differences in maximum axle loads and loading gauges. These differences result from the development of separate national networks over many years. The Commission supports interoperability of national networks and took a first step towards that in presenting its proposal for a directive on the interoperability of the high speed train (HST) network (1) which was adopted by the Council on 23 July 1996. In addition, in order to find the best ways of improving the competitiveness of international freight and passenger services (other than the high speed links) the Commission has launched a study on interoperability covering a number of questions including gauges, and plans to make proposals in late 1998 on cost-efficient measures to help integrate the conventional national networks. (1) Directive 96/48/EC › OJ L 235, 17. 9. 1996. (98/C 117/141) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2950/97 by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997) Subject: European Train Control System (ETCS) Is the Commission aware that different safety and traffic control systems exist for rail transport in the various Member States? Is the Commission aware that a proposal has been made for a European Train Control System (ETCS), for which operational specifications would have to be drawn up?