WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1670/97 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Solar energy
C 45/76 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 2. 98 › that the Community must therefore endeavour to ensure that the necessary provisions are introduced into the Marpol convention during its current revision (the International convention for the prevention of pollution from ships). Work is currently in progress to finalise the new Annex VI to Marpol 73/78, dealing with restrictions on air pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and VOCs) generated from ships. The proposed annex will be presented for approval at a conference in September 1997. After ratification by a sufficient number of states these provisions will enter into force. In the light of the final agreement on the revision of the Marpol convention, the Commission will decide whether it is appropriate to propose an amendment to Directive 94/63/EEC, in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of that Directive, including an extension of the scope of the Directive to include vapour control and recovery systems for loading installations and ships. (1) OJ L 365, 31. 12. 1994. (98/C 45/91) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1670/97 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (20 May 1997) Subject: Solar energy Is it true that there is no European production at present of silicon, which is an important component in the production of photovoltaic cells? Is this because this element does not exist in Europe or because its extraction has not been developed? From where does the EU obtain its supplies of silicon? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1997) Silicon is one of the most abundant elements on earth › sand is essentially an oxide of silicon › so there is no shortage of silicon in Europe. Chemically pure silicon cannot be used for solar or electronic applications. It must be further purified to become ásolar grade’ (i. e. useful for photovoltaic solar cell production) and, even more, if it is to be used for transistors, integrated circuits and other electronic devices. Solar grade silicon is produced by several European companies and research and development (R&D) work in view of more cost effective production of such silicon is presently funded by the non-nuclear energy programme, in order to secure European supply of all appropriate categories of solar grade silicon (amorphous, crystalline, thin film). (98/C 45/92) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Spalato Bellere· (NI) to the Commission (20 May 1997) Subject: Road safety Given the appalling number of deaths caused each year by road accidents within the European Union (45 000) and the social and economic cost of such accidents, which has been estimated at ECU 162 m per year, there is now an urgent need for an integrated road safety plan. The Commission is asked to draw up an action plan making provision for binding legislative measures such as the obligation to carry out road safety impact assessments (along the same lines as those carried out on the environment) in connection with all new infrastructure projects, together with improved emergency services, the establishment of a database enabling progress in this area to be monitored, and the launch of pilot projects covering both techniques and equipment likely to help reduce the number of road accidents