WRITTEN QUESTION E-2078/99 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Incentives to use bicycles.
C 303 E/26 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 The Commission will take advantage of the revision process of Directive 94/62/EC, which should start before the end of 1999, to improve the reuse systems of packaging in the Member States. According to the most recent data, the total quantity of packaging waste in the Community is about 61 million tonnes per year, of which 14 million tonnes for liquid beverage containers (11 million tonnes glass, 1 million tonnes plastics, 1 million tonnes metals and 1 million tonnes beverage composites). (1) OJ L 365, 31. 12. 1994. (2000/C 303 E/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2078/99 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 November 1999) Subject: Incentives to use bicycles Can the Commission tell me what incentives, schemes or guidelines exist, if any, to encourage the use of bicycles for employees in the public sector in particular or indeed in the private sector? Is the Commission aware that some state funded companies encourage by financial ownership and use of the private motor car, whereas no such incentives are offered to cyclists? incentive, the Can the Commission tell me if there are any proposals to investigate the promotion of incentives for the use of the bicycle by, for example, looking at a mileage allowance in work related trips? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1999) The Commission appreciates that employers have a key role to play in promoting sustainable mobility by encouraging staff to make greater use of alternatives to private cars, such as walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing (1). In line with the principle of subsidiarity, authorities and employers in the Member States must take the lead in matters of local and regional transport. Therefore, the Community has adopted no incentives, schemes or guidelines on this subject. The Commission does not presently hold the data that would allow it to answer the Honourable Memberís questions. However, it has initiated two projects that will provide relevant information in the future. It recently commissioned a study of áunconventional forms of charging and taxation to support public transport, and taxation (dis)-incentives in commuter transportí. This study is due to report in spring 2000. It will summarise how Member Statesí taxation systems affect incentives for individuals to choose different forms of transport to work, and for employers to help them with their travel arrangements -including bicycle use. In partnership with six member states, the Commission has established the European platform on mobility management (EPOMM). This will share good practice on how public and private organisations are encouraging sustainable transport patterns among employees and visitors. This information will be made available via the internet. To help transport authorities, operators and user groups find out about good practice in local and regional transport, the Commission also sponsors the European local transport information service (Eltis) (www. el- tis. org). This includes more than three hundred case studies, of which several ü like the Helsinki cycling strategy and the Nottingham Commuter Planners Club ü deal with initiatives which aim to promote cycle 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/27 commuting. The Commission has recently published the manual Cycling: the way ahead for towns and citiesí (2). This publication for local decision makers presents various examples of good practices in the field of bicycle promotion and underlines the advantages to the business community of promoting bicycle use. In its own capacity as an employer, the Commission is promoting, through its ágreen housekeepingí policy of 1997, the use of sustainable forms of transport as an alternative to private cars. As part of this policy, it is creating cycle parking spaces in staff car parks, with internal cycle paths, taking space away from car parking. So far, 250 of these spaces have been provided. (1) See communication Developing the Citizensí Networkí: COM(98) 431 final. (2) ISBN: 92-828-5725-5 ü Catalogue No: CR-17-98-693-FR-C. (2000/C 303 E/023) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2079/99 by Giles Chichester (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 November 1999) Subject: EU legislation and exemptions for small businesses The important contribution which SMEs make to employment, growth, competitiveness is widely recognised. Commissioner Liikanen at the European Parliament hearing in September this year expressed his unequivocal support for a coherent enterprise strategy, especially for the creation of a genuine European spirit of enterprise and the support of SMEs as the most important job-creating sector. The setting up of the BEST task force to make proposals to improve the quality of legislation and eliminate unnecessary burdens on SMEs is welcomed. But still many legislative burdens exist. Is the Commission aware that the US has produced details of the extent to which small firms in the USA are exempt from employment regulations? Does the Commission have comparable information? If not, will the Commission, together with BEST, follow the US best practice and compile a comprehensive list of all policy areas of legislation which have an effect on small businesses? Is there a list of legislation containing exemptions for micro enterprises? If not, why not? Will the Commission review all business and employment legislation to see if further exemptions for micro enterprises are possible? Will the Commission produce in the interim, within two months, an assessment of every item of legislation which has an effect on business by type, turnover, number of employees etc? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) Regulation must strike a balance between widely different interests. Community businesses have to be competitive. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in particular need a business environment in which they can be innovative and achieve their potential to create growth and jobs. The Commission welcomes the Honourable Memberís suggestions regarding simplification and exemptions for small businesses. for enterprise aspects of better regulation and administrative simplification will play a key role. A specific unit will be created and charged with simplification of the regulatory business environment and reducing the administrative burden in particular of SMEs. One of its key functions will be to evaluate the impact of Community legislation on businesses, In the new Directorate general