WRITTEN QUESTION No. 967/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Transport of freight through Austria and transit permits
C 402/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 12. 98 The Commission also finances several projects to promote walking and cycling under the specific transport programme of the fourth framework programme of research and development. The Adonis project, for example, provides practical advice on cycling in the city. The Commission will also give financial support to the Eurobicycle initiative of the European Cyclist Federation, designed to develop trans-european cycling routes, particularly the London-Rome route that passes through Brussels. (98/C 402/061) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0967/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Transport of freight through Austria and transit permits The Greek state company PYR-KAL frequently transports goods through the territory of Community and third countries. Recently when it organized the transit of two consignments of freight (from Greece to Belgium and from Slovakia to Greece), it found that the Austrian authorities still require a transit permit, exactly as they did before Austrian accession to the EU. The freight in question is RID Class 1 › Cargoí and is classified as Euro 1 certificatedí: it is transported by rail. Belgium and Germany (Member States of the Union) through which it also passes do not require any transit permit. Will the Commission say whether Austria is entitled to require a transit permit for freight of Community provenance (which the other Member States of the EU do not require) and what action it intends to take to ensure that Austria complies with its contractual obligations as a Member State of the Union? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (25 May 1998) The Commission confirms that under the terms of Council Directive 96/49/EC of 23 July 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail (1) the consignor has to notify in a written form the transport of some dangerous goods being certified as áradioactive immune diffusion (RID) class 1 › cargoí. As the Honourable Member does not state in detail the kind of goods being forwarded, the Commission cannot clarify whether the átransit authorisationí requested by Austrian authorities complies with the existing Community legislation. However, the carriage of class 1 goods such as explosive substances and articles is subject to approval by the competent authority. (1) OJ L 235, 17. 9. 1996. (98/C 402/062) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0973/98 by Gerardo FernÆndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Stamp issues in Euros Of particular interest amongst the measures which will accompany the entry into force of the Euro is the issuing of postage stamps which, in all Member States, will replace current stamp issues. Both users and collectors would like to know what the entry into force of the Euro will mean in this area. Can the Commission tell me what is planned? Who will be responsible for issuing postage stamps, a task currently carried out at national level? What European proposals will there be in this area with a view to standardizing the designs featured in each issue?