WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2342/97 by Stephen HUGHES to the Commission. Variations in rules for car drivers
C 82/60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 3. 98 As far as future action is concerned, in accordance with Article 10 of Council Directive 92/102/EEC the Commission is now preparing a report on the identification and registration system of animals. All aspects of the identification of pigs, in particular those mentioned by the Honourable Member, will be taken into consideration. Based on the findings of this report, the Commission will propose any appropriate measures. The report and any proposals from the Commission will be presented to the Parliament. Additionally, Article 10 provides for a review of the possibility of introducing electronic identification arrangements. (98/C 82/106) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2342/97 by Stephen Hughes (PSE) to the Commission (10 July 1997) Subject: Variations in rules for car drivers Could the Commission list which Member States: 1. Require a warning triangle to be carried in a car; 2. Require a fire extinguisher to be carried in a car; 3. Allow a sealed gallon of petrol to be carried in the boot of a car? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997) 1. A warning triangle for cars is required in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland and Sweden. In Denmark and the Netherlands there is no obligation to carry this device in the car but use is compulsory in case of breakdown of the vehicle. 2. A fire extinguisher in cars is required in Belgium, Greece and Portugal. As far as the Commission is informed, there are no Member States forbidding a sealed gallon of petrol to be 3. carried in the boot of a car. The laws on these and many other matters governing the safety of vehicles are currently of course entirely within the legal competence of Member States and not of the Community. (98/C 82/107) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2347/97 by Friedhelm Frischenschlager (ELDR) to the Commission (10 July 1997) Subject: Socrates action programme The last two years have shown that the Socrates action programme has made an important contribution to European education. Funding for the programme seems to be very low, given that it is both very well known and very popular and in view of its expansion to cover the new Member States. 1. Will the cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe lead to a reduction in the quality of the Socrates programme? How does the Commission plan to increase further the transparency of the procedures for the award of 2. funding in order to curb abuses? 3. How many ecus have been channelled to Austria under this programme over the last two years? What percentage of the funding allocated to them was taken up in the other two new Member States, Finland and Sweden, and what was the corresponding figure for Austria?