WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1412/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. High-speed trains at Lunghezza
C 45/28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 2. 98 filters for liquids, provided by point 6. 2(g) of the Annex to Commission Directive 91/659/EEC, is intended primarily to prevent exposure of maintenance workers to airborn asbestos fibres, though it does also avoid the take-up of fibres in the filtered liquid. This measure complements provisions in Directive 83/477/EEC (1) on the protection of workers from asbestos. The Commission furthermore will continue to study all possible risks associated with drinking water pipes containing asbestos as part of the work programme on asbestos. The Commission drew up, in 1993, a draft proposal for a directive to ban asbestos with exemptions. However, no qualified majority could be identified for the draft proposal. The Commission relaunched discussions on the asbestos question with Member State experts in 1996. The last meetings were on 26th July 1996 and 7th November 1996. The Commission intends to examine, as quickly as possible, all the most recent scientific, technical and economical analyses in order to review the policy with regard to asbestos. (1) OJ L 263, 24. 9. 1983. (98/C 45/33) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1395/97 by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission (22 April 1997) Subject: Restrictions on regional development funds Regional development funds were provided for the development of airport facilities at Benbecula in the Western Isles. this is an airport also used for military purposes, particularly with reference to the Royal Artillery range and the RAF. Were any specific restrictions put on the spending of European Union funds on civilian facilities rather than military ones and, if not, why not? Supplementary answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (13 August 1997) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to his oral question H-0494/97 during question time at Parliamentís July 1997 part-session (1). (1) Debates of the Parliament (July 1997). (98/C 45/34) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1412/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (22 April 1997) Subject: High-speed trains at Lunghezza Directive 85/337/EEC (1), as recently amended by Directive 97/11/EC (2), provides (in Article 4) that an environmental impact assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 must be carried out in the event of the construction of álinesí for long-distance railway traffic (Annex I). Contrary to the above provision, the Municipality of Rome, together with the Region of Lazio and Iricav, drew up a works project in January 1996 for a stretch of high-speed line between Rome and Naples at Lunghezza, Rome. That plan did not provide for consultation of the areaís inhabitants, even though this is required by Directive 85/337