WRITTEN QUESTION No. 597/98 by Panayotis LAMBRIAS to the Commission. Civil aviation in the European Union
C 354/10 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 11. 98 (98/C 354/14) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0597/98 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1998) Subject: Civil aviation in the European Union On 27 January 1998 the Forum Europe organized a conference in Brussels entitled Meeting the Global Challenge › the Outlook for Civil Aviation in the EUí. Will the Commission give its views on the tendencies and views expressed at this conference, and say whether it considers that there is any scope for taking measures aimed at strengthening Community policy in this area? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (22 April 1998) The conference mentioned by the Honourable Member focused on the issue of globalisation in air transport and its consequences for civil aviation in the Community. The Commission recognises the need to have a regulatory structure adapted to the needs of globalised civil aviation. Since 1987, three packages of liberalisation measures have gradually created a single aviation market within the Community which offers Community airlines a strong basis for the development of a world-wide strategy. However, globalisation requires that the Community adopts an effective external policy in order to ensure that Community carriers, as well as consumers, can take the fullest possible advantage of the new competitive environment while ensuring safety and fair competition. The Commission is developing such a policy in negotiating the establishment of a European common aviation area with ten central European countries. It has also submitted to the Council a proposal for a decision (1) authorising the Commission to open negotiations for an agreement with the United States on the creation of a transatlantic common aviation area. The granting of such a mandate, which is still under discussion in the Council, would constitute an important step in the development and implementation of an effective common external aviation policy in line with the globalisation of the industry and it would serve the interests of the Community and its Member States, airlines and people. (1) SEC(97) 2053 final. (98/C 354/15) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0598/98 by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1998) Subject: Toxic pollution in the Aegean from industrial plants situated on its eastern shores According to data from the UNís Mediterranean Action Programme (UNEP 1997) and the relevant OECD reports, vast amounts of industrial waste are being dumped into the Aegean. This pollution is caused by hundreds of industrial plants on the Turkish coast which refuse to comply with international rules on pollution: they constitute a sort of toxic time-bomb which threatens the ecological balance of the region as a whole. Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to address this problem which will inflict environmental and economic disaster on a vital region of the European Union? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (22 April 1998) The Commission is aware of problems relating to the environment in Turkey. The resolution of the Community-Turkey Association Council of 6 March 1995 provided for cooperation on this with Turkey to commence in order to step up efforts to combat the deterioration of the environment