WRITTEN QUESTION E-0379/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Measures to provide information on the current denied-boarding compensation system.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/145 If the measures to which the question refers apply to university and higher education establishments, where the purpose of the Member State is not to make a profit but to fulfil its duty to its population in the social, cultural and educational field, this does not constitute a service within the meaning of the Treaty. In fact, the system referred to is generally funded by the State and not by the students or their parents. In any case, the nature of the activity is not affected by the fact that the students or their parents are sometimes obliged to pay education fees to make some contribution to the operating costs. (2000/C 330 E/164) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0379/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Measures to provide information on the current denied-boarding compensation system The Commission proposal COM(1998) 41 final (1) of 30 January 1998 proposed amendments to Regulation (EEC) No 295/91 (2) and established common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system in scheduled air transport. In the proposal the Commission stated its intention of increasing information to passengers, which was deemed insufficient, in particular by displaying notices at check-in counters (Article 3). In addition, the Commission intended to launch an information campaign on passengersí rights to compensation when denied boarding. Is the Commission aware that notices on passengersí rights in cases of overbooking are not displayed on check-in counters? Does it intend to take any measures to combat this? Given the cases of malpractice by airlines of which the Commission is aware in which passengers have not received compensation, or have been only partially compensated, as a direct result of a lack of information, could the Commission indicate when it will carry out the information campaign to European citizens, and the various forms this will take? (1) OJ C 120, 18. 4. 1998, p. 18. (2) OJ L 36, 8. 2. 1991, p. 5. Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (31 March 2000) The Commission has for some years been concerned about the implementation and effectiveness of Council Regulation (EEC) No 295/91 of 4 February 1991 establishing common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system in scheduled air transport. It became aware of a number of cases in which passengers were not fully compensated, largely because they were not informed of their rights. This led the Commission to propose, two years ago, the amendment of the Regulation. One aim of the amending regulation was to improve information for passengers by the display of notices at check-in points. However adoption of the regulation has not been completed by the Council. Consequently there is no obligation at present to put up notices at check-in counters. Faced by delay in the adoption of the amendment, the Commission recently launched a study on the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 295/91. The aim of the study is, first, to make an inventory of the legal measures that Member States have taken to apply the regulation and of the rules that airlines have laid down to deal with overbooking and, second, to assess how all these measures have worked in practice. The Commission will then consider whether further action is needed. C 330 E/146 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 However the Commission well understands the necessity of ensuring passengers are informed about their rights, if they are to insist on their respect. For that reason, it plans to launch an immediate initiative to improve information to passengers. It intends to arrange for the publication and display, in airports, travel agencies and the offices of airlines, of a charter of all existing rights. This would cover compensation for denied boarding, among other things. (2000/C 330 E/165) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0381/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Improving road safety by tackling accident áblack spotsí and sections of road with high accident rates The most recent information concerning the new communication on road safety currently being drawn up by the Commission seems to indicate that the new programme áclassifiesí the proposed measures by order of effectiveness, on the basis of the now-popular measure of EUR 1 million. However, like previous programmes, which were too general in nature, the new communication may miss a unique opportunity to take more decisive action on infrastructure and, more specifically, on áblack spotsí, using engineering techniques which experts term álow costí. What effectiveness rating does the Commissionís new communication attach to tackling accident black spots and improving sections of road with high accident rates as a road safety measure? Does the Commission intend to issue Europe-wide recommendations on the definition and typology of these álow-cost engineering techniquesí? Finally, does the Commission intend to draw up Europe-wide recommendations on tackling accident black spots, and to create a budget line for co-financing relevant projects at national level? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (30 March 2000) In its forthcoming communication on road safety, infrastructure measures including improvements to the layout and design of roadside objects to reduce the severity of injury in a road accident, and management of black spots, have been identified as priorities. the low cost In general these measures appear to be very cost-effective with an estimated cost per avoided fatality starting at around € 80 000. Investments in these infrastructure measures have to be left to local authorities but the Commission will develop guidelines in order to exchange best practice experience. Moreover authorities at all levels are recommended to bring the benefit of such measures closer to those who decide on the investments by means of targeted financial programmes