WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3002/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Italian Government decree allowing local authorities to set up their own taxi services
16. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 117/125 Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (24 October 1997) The Commission has no knowledge of the document to which the Honourable Member is referring. As for the new Turkish governmentís stance on human rights and democratisation, the Prime Minister has on a number of occasions publicly acknowledged the ground his country still has to cover in this field. The programme proposed in the Commissionís communication of 15 July on the future of relations with Turkey specifically involves cooperating closely with the government on human rights and thereby fostering the smooth development of civil society in the country. (98/C 117/160) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3002/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Italian Government decree allowing local authorities to set up their own taxi services In the last week of July 1997 the Italian Government issued a decree enabling local authorities to set up their own public taxi services, as an alternative to existing taxi services. This provision has given rise to a number of complaints by taxi-drivers, who consider that their livelihood is being jeopardized by the introduction of mechanisms which threaten to undermine free competition in the taxi sector. In view of the above, can the Commission say: 1. whether it is aware of this matter; 2. whether there is any European legislation on taxi services; 3. whether it considers the fears expressed by Italian taxi drivers concerning possible distortions of competition caused by the decree to be justified; 4. if so, whether it considers it should use its influence with the Italian authorities on the subject? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1997) The Commission is not aware of the measures cited by the Honourable Member No. 1. 2. 3. and 4. The organisation and control of national, regional or local taxi markets including the licensing system is mainly an area of competence of national authorities. They are in a better position to deal with these matters. (98/C 117/161) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3011/97 by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: Granting PDO to Terra di Bari oil Will the Commission say why it called off the meeting at which Terra di Bari extra virgin olive oil was to have been granted protected designation of origin (PDO)? This meeting, and the award of PDO, had been fully expected by the Italian Farmersí Confederation whose provincial president, Antonio Barile, had even arranged a special meeting with traders and the press in Bari in July 1997 to announce the good news