WRITTEN QUESTION E-0383/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Adaptation to technical progress of motor vehicles.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/147 (2000/C 330 E/166) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0382/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Information and direction signs for international traffic on the trans-European road network (TERN) One of the main features of the trans-European network is áinteroperabilityí. The European Commission, working together with the Member States, has made considerable efforts to achieve this, in accordance with the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty. The Motorway Working Group and the Action Start subgroup were established to work towards the creation of Community rules to harmonise various technical aspects, including information and direction signs within the trans-European road network (TERN), in order to ensure interoperability. However, despite the efforts of the Action Start subgroup, information and direction signs within the TERN continue to be characterised by a lack of continuity and harmonisation. Does the Commission intend to draw up Community rules to reflect the conclusions of the work of the Action Start subgroup? What additional measures does the Commission intend to take, in the light of the report of the Action Start subgroup, to ensure interoperability within the trans-European road network and minimise the confusion which the current lack of harmonisation of information and direction signs creates for the international traffic which uses it? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (17 March 2000) The Vienna Convention on road signs and signals (1) establishes a common system for warning, priority, prohibitory and mandatory road signs, but contains only very general rules for direction signs. The Start Action, in 1994, which aimed at evaluating the interoperability needs for the establishment of the Trans European road network (TERN), firstly recommended that Member States apply this Convention, and secondly proposed that the Community complements it with other requirements. The Commission recognised that the harmonisation of road signs would be perceived by European citizens as a strong symbol of European integration, it considered however that such legislative action was not opportune as two Member States have not signed the Vienna Convention (Ireland, Netherlands) and three others have not ratified it (Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom), even if they largely apply it. However the current revision process for the Community guidelines on the development of the Trans European transport network offers the opportunity to reassess this position. The Commission will consider how best to ensure the interoperability and quality of the TEN-T in its report on the revision of the Community guidelines that will be submitted to the Parliament and Council in the middle of 2000. (1) Convention on road signs and signals, adopted by the United Nations ü Economic commission for Europe, of 8 November 1968, revised in 1993 and 1995. (2000/C 330 E/167) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0383/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Adaptation to technical progress of motor vehicles The accession of the European Community, by decision of the Council, to the agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on the adoption of technical specifications for motor vehicles (more commonly known as the Revised 1958 Agreement) was a decisive step towards the stated firm political commitment to eliminating technical trade barriers within the European Union. C 330 E/148 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 However, inexplicably, the accession was not total, since the act of accession did not incorporate all of the regulations listed in the annex of the agreement on the date of signing (27 November 1997). This situation, combined with the fact that the number of regulations has increased since then, means that there has not been full adaptation to technical progress in this sector. Does the Commission intend to complete this list by the end of 2000 in order to incorporate in the act of accession all those regulations contained in the Revised 1958 Agreement which are currently outstanding? Is there any legal or technical obstacle to full incorporation? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (29 March 2000) With the adoption of Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997, the Community has become a Contracting Party to the United Nationsí Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Revised 1958 Agreement on 24 March 1998. At the date of its accession to this Agreement, the Community has restricted its accession to the recognition of 78 Regulations annexed to it. It has been agreed that UN-ECE Regulations which are binding on the Community are to be published in the Official journal before their entry into force. In the meantime, the Member States accept approvals ü even when granted by other Contracting Parties ü and grant approvals according to these Regulations. Ever since the Communityís accession to the UN-ECE 1958 Revised Agreement the number of Regulations has remained unchanged. In order for new UN-ECE Regulations to be adopted, the Council, on a proposal from the Commission and after the assent of the Parliament, has to approve them first. Several new draft UN-ECE Regulations are currently being examined by the Council with the intention of having them recognized by the Community. It should also be recalled that the Parliament has already given its assent to two of them. With regard to existing UN-ECE Regulations which have not been recognized by the Community at the time of its accession to the Revised 1958 UN-ECE Agreement it should be underlined that the Commission intends to gradually submit proposals to the Council and to the European Parliament, aimed at the Communityís adhesion to the remaining Regulations. At the time of its adhesion to the UN-ECE 1958 Revised Agreement, the Community in fact considered these remaining 31 Regulations first needed to be adapted to technical progress by UN-ECE before the Community could adhere to them. This adaptation is currently being processed by UN-ECE working groups. As soon as this work is finalised, the Commission will table the appropriate proposals. It should also be underlined that the Community has played an active role in the UN-ECE decision making process with regard to the amendment of UN-ECE Regulations to which it has adhered. Thus, between November 1998 and October 1999, the Community has accepted some thirty amendments to UN-ECE Regulations it has recognized. For reasons of transparency, the Commission will examine the possibility to establish a register showing the actual state of application of UN-ECE Regulations by the Community. (2000/C 330 E/168) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0385/00 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (15 February 2000) Subject: Anti-advertising chip in televisions Some televisions nowadays have an electronic chip which automatically allows advertisements to be eliminated and alternative pictures shown. The technology is comparable to that of the chip in a radio which provides traffic news. The advantage to consumers is that they can avoid seeing advertisements. Advertisers will have a motivated audience. The alternative to advertising could be funded by gradually reducing the tax deductibility of advertising costs