WRITTEN QUESTION E-0421/00 by Ulrich Stockmann (PSE) to the Commission. Equipping of motor vehicles with warning triangles.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/71 The Commission is aware of the work of Dr H. Lindeboom (referred to in the question as 4. Dr Lindeman), the author of the article referred to. Dr Lindeboom is an eminent scientist who has published a number of texts, both scientific and popular, in which he claims that beam trawling is damaging to the environment. However, other equally eminent scientists do not agree, either completely or at all, with Dr Lindeboomís conclusions. 5. The activities of beam trawlers are already curtailed by Community legislation. Large beam trawlers (greater than 221 Kilo Watt engine power) are not allowed to fish in the so-called plaice box which is an area of sea adjacent to the North Sea coasts of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, and Netherlands. Furthermore, large beam trawlers may not fish in the 12 mile zone around Ireland and United Kingdom. Beam trawling is prohibited in the Kattegat. At this stage, the Commission does not envisage any amendment to those restrictions. It will however continue to survey and evaluate biological impacts of fisheries, in order to propose further measures if and when appropriate. (2000/C 374 E/083) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0421/00 by Ulrich Stockmann (PSE) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Equipping of motor vehicles with warning triangles I am informed by a German industrial undertaking that since last summer the Kingdom of Spain has required motor vehicles to be equipped with two warning triangles. Are there any plans within the Commission to submit a proposal to make it compulsory for all motor vehicles throughout the EU to be equipped with two warning triangles? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (28 March 2000) The Commission is aware of Spanish legislation requiring all vehicles to carry two warning triangles. This is a requirement of the General Regulations of Vehicles, Article 19 and Annex XII published as a Royal Decree (Real Decreto 2822/98) on 23 December 1998. The warning triangle does not form part of the construction standards of vehicles, and the requirement to carry it is an item of traffic rules. Such rules are normally the competence of the Member States and the Commission has no plans to extend the Spanish system throughout the Community. (2000/C 374 E/084) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0422/00 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Installation of Greek Electricity Board (DEI) pylons in the Cyclades For a number of years the DEI has been endeavouring to link up the islands of Andros, Tinos, Syros and Mykonos with high-tension electrical current from Euvoia and to set up pylons on these islands for this purpose. There have already been furious protests from local inhabitants on these islands, and the Council of State has issued a decision invalidating such a move