WRITTEN QUESTION E-1175/00 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission. Use of hired cars from third countries.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/91 One example is the Lisbon-Brussels route: ü the route is now operated exclusively by the Qualiflyer group (TAP and Sabena), ü night flights are being ended from the start of the summer period, ü fares have risen steeply and conditions for bookings and advance payments have been tightened, ü only one counter is available (Qualiflyer), leading to a substantial increase in congestion and a lack of personal service. In this light, will the Commission monitor developments in relation to the consequences of liberalisation in detail, and will it intervene in cases such as that described above to preserve the principles on which the liberalisation of air transport in the EU was based? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (3 May 2000) The Commission is continuously monitoring the air transport sector to ensure that the liberalisation in force since 1 January 1993, are properly measures constituting the third and final In its implemented and that the competition rules provided for in the EC Treaty are fully applied. communication of 20 May 1999 entitled The European airline industry: from single market to world- wide challengesí (1), it presented the results of ten years of liberalisation of civil aviation. While these may appear to be positive overall, the communication mentions the disappointing fare increases and stresses that there are still large differences in fares per kilometre across the Community. áair packageí, With regard to the Lisbon-Brussels route, the Commission shares the Honourable Memberís concern that the route is now operated exclusively by the Qualiflyer group. It is taking a detailed look at the compatibility of the Qualiflyer group agreements with the provisions of Article 81 (ex Article 85) of the EC Treaty. (1) COM(1999) 182 final. (2001/C 53 E/121) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1175/00 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission (12 April 2000) Subject: Use of hired cars from third countries In its reply to question H-1190/98 (1) the Commission stated its intention áto settle this matter during the first half of this yearí (i. e. 1999). Was it successful? (1) Debates of the European Parliament No 4-531 (January 1999). Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (19 June 2000) The Commission is pleased to inform the Honourable Member that Article 1(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1662/1999 of 28 July 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of the Community Customs Code (1) which came into force on 5 August 1999, provided a solution to the problem raised by Question H-1190/98 during the January 1999 part-session question time (2). C 53 E/92 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 In line with the new provision, the customs authorities may authorise natural persons established in the customs territory of the Community to use in that territory a vehicle hired under a written contract outside it. This authorisation is subject to the condition that countries where the vehicles are hired and registered authorise temporary importation under comparable circumstances for vehicles hired and registered in the customs territory of the Community. The vehicle shall be re-exported or returned to a car-hire company established in the customs territory of the Community for subsequent re-exportation within eight days of the entry into force of the contract. (1) OJ L 197, 29. 7. 1999. (2) Debates of the European Parliament No 4-531 (January 1999. ). (2001/C 53 E/122) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1179/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 April 2000) Subject: The Basque language in Navarre The legal regime governing the use of Basque in Navarre is at present laid down by regional law No 18/1986 of 15 December 1986 (on the Basque language). This law divides the territory of Navarre in which Basque and Spanish have joint into three language zones, namely: a Basque-speaking zone, official status; a ámixedí zoneí; and a non-Basque-speaking zone (in the latter two, the sole official language is Spanish). According to data supplied by the regional government of Navarre, Basque is spoken by 70 % of the population in the Basque-speaking zone, 21 % in the mixed zone and 7 % in the non-Basque- speaking zone. In the Basque-speaking zone, given the co-official status of Basque, education and administration are conducted on a bilingual basis. In the mixed zone, Basque is not official and its use is voluntary. In the non-Basque-speaking zone, language rights do not exist as such: Basque exists only as a school subject, and Basque-medium education is not offered, even though there is certainly demand. The administration in this zone is under no obligation to deal with the public in Basque, nor does it have the resources to do so. Furthermore, Basque-medium education is not offered in the sole state university of the region of Navarre, as Basque has recently been given a status similar to that of áforeigní languages such as English or French. Given that the regional law No 18/1986 on the Basque language defines Basque as a specifically Navarran language, and in view of the numerous resolutions adopted by the European Parliament such as that of 30 October 1987 in which it is recommended that Member States should give an official dimension to the teaching of regional and minority languages and give such teaching the same status as that accorded to the teaching of national languages, and, similarly, the resolutions of 9 February 1994, 17 December 1998 and 16 March 2000, is the Commission aware of this situation? Does the Commission not believe that the present state of affairs in the non-Basque-speaking zone runs counter to the principles of those resolutions? On the eve of the European Year of Languages, does the Commission not believe that cases such as that of Basque in Navarre need to be closely monitored? Does the Commission intend to draw up a progress report on respect for the cultural diversity of the Member States, in line with the principles arising from Article 151 of the Treaty? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (14 June 2000) Respect for linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the foundation stones of the Union. The Commission takes note of the information provided by the Honourable Member on the situation of the Basque language in the Communidad Foral de Navarra. Tit should be pointed out that a Parliamentary resolution is not legally binding on the Member States. For its part, he Commission has taken action within its field of competence e. g. by drafting a report on the situation of regional and minority languages in the Union (the Euromosaicí study) and providing financial of the said resolutions support for safeguarding and promoting regional and minority languages, as well as supporting the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages and the Mercator information network. The Commission has alsoopening up Community programmes, where applicable, financed initiatives involving regional and minority languages within other Community programmes