WRITTEN QUESTION E-1780/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Accident databases.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/45 more detail was the issue of ábuyer powerí, that is whether and how the increase in bargaining power of large supermarket chains affects the competitive position of their suppliers, that is the producers of daily consumer goods, and also whether it can pose concerns with regard to competition where the supermarket chains act as sellers, that is in relation to other retailers and with respect to final consumers. The Commission will have to take this aspect carefully into consideration when examining a concentration. Another way to protect small independent firms is to encourage them to co-operate, as they will have little chance of becoming or remaining competitive unless they pool some or all of their functions. Businesses have to reach a critical mass before they can buy and sell on best terms. The Commission welcomes co- operation between small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) when this co-operation allows them to increase their efficiency and to expand their productivity and competitiveness. The draft regulation on exemption from the provisions on vertical restraints on which the Commission is currently working represents considerable progress in this area. This regulation takes account especially of the particular circumstances of associations of independent retailers. On the basis of this legal framework, the Commission will enable associations of small retailers to conclude vertical agreements with respect both to their suppliers and to their members between commercial SMEs, in particular through the exchange of ideas and information about good practices in this field. (1) OJ L 180, 9. 7. 1997. (2000/C 203 E/054) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1780/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (11 October 1999) Subject: Accident databases At the same time as promoting improved efficiency in rail transport operations, will the Commission ensure that EU crash and casualty databases are improved so that policies can be monitored and safety improved? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (9 November 1999) Council Decision 93/704/EC of 30 November 1993 (1) was instrumental for the development of a Community database on road accident statistics. This decision was implemented in April 1994 and all Member States now supply copies of their national data records of the Community database. Some key data sets commonly reported in national data are transformed to account for definitional and reporting differences so that comparisons of the incidence of different types of road accident can be better compared between Member States. This model for road accident data exchange between Member States has provided a firm basis for evaluating and monitoring road safety on a more comparable basis between Member States. Similar developments are in place to enhance the evaluation of the occupant protection offered by cars. As regards railway safety, individual Member States monitor safety and investigate railway accidents within the scope of their national legislation. The Commission will consider whether improving crash and accident databases at Community level would improve railway safety within the Community, taking full account of subsidiarity. (1) OJ L 329, 30. 12. 1993