WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3905/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Malpensa airport
16. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 187/81 With regard to the situation of the Greek islands during the forthcoming programming period, the Commission would point out that the Structural Funds programmes are drawn up in partnership with the Member States, which submit their regional development plan to the Commission. This means that the documents adopted reflect the choices and priorities initially fixed by each Member State. The statistics currently available to the Commission (average GDP in 1992-94) do not suggest that the Greek islands will cease to be eligible under Objective 1. In addition, under the draft Regulations that the Commission is now preparing, the remote Greek islands which are handicapped by distance would continue to enjoy a higher rate of part-financing from the Community. (98/C 187/127) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3905/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (11 December 1997) Subject: Malpensa airport Malpensa airport is one of the European Unionís top priority projects. Unfortunately, Malpensa still lacks adequate infrastructure for links with Milan, the most important city in Northern Italy and a city which leads Europe in economic terms. Mr Burlando, the Italian Minister of Transport, is reported to have decided that, as from next October, Milanís Linate airport should only be used for internal flights whilst all flights to the European Union should depart from Malpensa. At any time during working hours, the journey to Malpensa from the centre of Milan takes approximately one and a half hours and costs some LIT 200 000 by taxi. Will the Commission: 1. ask the Italian Government to ensure that Malpensa is fit to operate before setting a date for an increase in air traffic at this airport? 2. Intervene to ensure that flights from Linate airport linking Milan with the rest of the Union, especially Brussels, are not cancelled since, if flights from Milan to Rome, the capital of Italy, are continued then flights from Milan to Brussels, the capital of Europe, should also be continued? (98/C 187/128) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3956/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI), Amedeo Amadeo (NI) and Carlo Secchi (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Milan Malpensa Airport Malpensa is one of the Unionís main priority projects. Regrettably, however, there are still no proper connection facilities linking the airport to the foremost northern Italian metropolis, Milan, a city which provides an economic bridgehead to Europe. The Italian Minister of Transport, Mr Burlando, has apparently ruled that Milan Linate Airport should be used from October 1998 for domestic flights only and all flights to European Union destinations should depart from Malpensa Airport. The journey from Malpensa to central Milan, at any time during normal working hours, takes about an hour and a half, and the taxi fare costs approximately LIT 200 000