WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3143/97 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. The Commission's monitoring system for checks on nuclear fissile materials
C 134/94 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 (98/C 134/120) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/97 by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission (13 October 1997) Subject: Ban on night flights in Italy Is the Commission aware that the Italian Transport and Environment Ministries have drafted a regulation which, if adopted, would ban all flights to and from all civil airports, with the exception of the areas round the intercontinental airports of Rome Fiumicino and Malpensa, between 11 p. m. and 6 a. m. ? Is the Commission also aware that this regulation comprises an exemption for all flights for ápostal servicesí and that it is thought that this exemption will be interpreted in a narrow sense to ensure that only Alitalia flights for the Ente Poste Italianeí can make use of it? Is the Commission aware that it is essential for courier services to be able to fly at night, and that the planned ban may therefore have serious implications for their survival? Does the Commission also realise that some of the services offered by the Ente Poste Italianeí compete with services provided by individual couriers, and that the exemption in favour of the Ente Poste Italianeí will give the Italian Postal Service a competitive advantage which conflicts with the EU legislation on this subject? Does the Commission intend to put pressure on the Italian Government to guarantee that the general exemption applies at any event to night flights for all postal services? If so, how? If not, why not? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1997) The Commission has not been formally informed by the Italian authorities about the envisaged ban on night flights at all Italian civil airports except Roma Fiumicino and Milano-Malpensa. Subject to the provisions and procedures of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes (1), Member States can take certain restrictive operational measures with a view to limiting noise around aiports. Such restrictive measures could include the introduction of a ban on night flights. However, they must comply with the general principle of non-discrimination and the Commission, acting further to a complaint or on its own initiative, will ensure compliance with that principle. (1) OJ L 240, 24. 8. 1992. (98/C 134/121) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3143/97 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission (30 September 1997) Subject: The Commissionís monitoring system for checks on nuclear fissile materials At present the Commission is developing a new computer based monitoring system to check fissile materials movements (safeguards). The computer technology previously used for this purpose is to be replaced by a new technical installation at Euratom. 1. What are the exact reasons which led the Commission to exchange the previously used computer technology for a new system? 2. When did the Commission start developing the new monitoring programme, what are the exact costs involved for this development process and for the induction and training of staff to use this system?