WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3079/97 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO to the Commission. Dialogue with Cuba
C 117/148 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 Moreover, the Commission does not oppose an additional charge levied for the four main alpine passes of the network if it is justified in economic and environmental terms. The Commission is therefore negotiating in full accordance with the principles of the green paper Towards fair and efficient pricing in transportí (1). However, the charging should not be at levels which would maintain the existing volume of traffic diversion and neither should they be at levels which effectively prohibit road transport across Switzerland. The Commission considers that, in appropriate circumstances, rolling road strategies (álorries on trainí) are a useful means of freight movement. It is however actively promoting other forms of combined transport, including those in which containers on railway wagons are used for the main rail leg and road transport is used for the initial and/or final transport leg. The rolling road strategy relates to a specific market and is particularly suitable for small road haulage companies, new entrants and for crossing geographical barriers. The present and possible future agreements with Switzerland refer to combined transport in the widest sense. In the short and medium term, however, árolling roadí will be a necessary complement to a áfreight on trainí system. No specific analysis has been undertaken of the ways in which a ápure freight on train strategyí would produce modal shift in freight since such a singular approach to achieving greater transport sustainability is not envisaged by anyone. (1) Doc. COM(95) 691 final. (98/C 117/198) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3079/97 by Jesu· s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (2 October 1997) Subject: Dialogue with Cuba With regard to the political and economic situation in Cuba, does the Commission feel it can now propose that the dialogue with the Cuban authorities be stepped up with a view to gaining a mandate to explore the possibilities of concluding an EU-Cuba cooperation agreement? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (22 October 1997) The Union’s Common Prositon on Cuba adopted by the Council on 2 December 1996 (1) and renewed on 26 June 1997, and the Presidency report on the implementation of the Position approved at the same time, expressly provide for dialogue with the Cuban authorities and all sections of Cuban society to be stepped up, and for the continuation of humanitarian aid and economic cooperation intended to support the reforms. Both texts, however, make the granting of áfullí cooperation › of the same order as is accorded to other Latin American countries under cooperation agreements › contingent on real progress with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The fact is that no such progress has been observed in recent months: we are actually seeing a hardening of Cuban policy, notably in the attitude towards dissidents, and a slow-down in the reform process. In view of these developments it does not seem that the conditions for requesting a mandate to conclude a possible cooperation agreement between the Union and Cuba are fulfilled at present. (1) OJ L 322, 12. 12. 1996