WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2481/97 by Ludivina GARCÍA ARIAS to the Commission. Safety of stations and railway-crossings in built-up areas
C 82/90 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 3. 98 The Commission services will if necessary consider further steps, in the light of the reports from the Member States in order to protect consumer safety and to ensure the free movement of safe goods, including the possibility to launch the procedure foreseen in articles 9-11 of the general product safety directiveí. Furthermore, the Commission approved on 14 May 1997 a communication and a proposal for a decision of the Parliament and the Council adopting a programme on injury prevention in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health (2). Prevention of accidents to children is one of the fields of activity in this programme. (1) OJ L 228, 11. 8. 1992. (2) COM(97) 178. (98/C 82/151) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2481/97 by Ludivina Garc ·a Arias (PSE) to the Commission (16 July 1997) Subject: Safety of stations and railway-crossings in built-up areas A large number of accidents caused by trains in built-up areas are escaping public attention. Many of the victims are children and adolescents who ignore warning notices and take short cuts rather than using pedestrian footbridges and underpasses to cross sections of the track which have no protective barriers or fences, even though railway companies are under an obligation to ensure safety in the majority of Member States. Bearing in mind Article 75(c) of the Treaty on European Union (measures to improve transport safety), can the Commission say what type of action has been taken to prevent accidents caused by the lack of safety measures along railways in built-up areas? In view of the vast stretches of track which are generally unprotected, what Community provisions in relation to the rail sector might make it possible to improve the safety of passengers and the public as a whole (Article 75(c))? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1997) Measures to restrict unauthorised access to railway tracks are entirely within the legal responsibility of different bodies in the different Member States. Furthermore, as the Honourable Member herself notes, many tragic accidents occur when people wilfully ignore warning signs and notices. Given this, the Commission would encourage Member States to publicise the dangers of crossing railway tracks by unauthorised means and there is clearly a special need to reinforce the education of children about the dangers of playing near railways. The Commission does not, however, currently have the legal authority to propose any legislation on the matter. (98/C 82/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2484/97 by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission (16 July 1997) Subject: Tobacco tax on medicinal herbal cigarettes In reply to my question E-0480/97 (1) the Commission stated on 4 April 1997 that it would inquire into the situation concerning a medicinal herbal cigarette of the Planterette Monte Verdo brand in the light of different rates of excise duty in the Member States