WRITTEN QUESTION E-0110/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Decentralisation of air communications.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/85 Options and limits for assessing the socio-economic impact of European RTD programmesí is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat. The recommendations of the experts group are currently being considered in the context of the monitoring and evaluation of the framework programme. (2000/C 330 E/093) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0110/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Decentralisation of air communications (26 January 2000) As part of the plans announced by the Member of the Commission responsible for transport in relation to the Europeanisation of European air space, and in the light of the chaotic experience of recent years, will the Commission encourage the decentralisation of air communications through the development of alternative international airports such as that at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, thus avoiding the congestion caused by the irrational concentration of flights in Madrid, where the central government intends to focus yet more airport investment on the construction of new runways and even a new airport? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (8 March 2000) Existing Community legislation on intra-Community air transport implies that air carriers take the decisions on their network structure including frequency of flights and localisation of connecting points on the basis of their own commercial considerations taking into account factors such as airport charges, availability of slots and size of the markets to be served. In relation to flights to and from third country destinations, however, most of the bilateral air services agreements concluded individually by Member States include rules which restrict the capacity of regional airports to attract additional traffic. The Commission is of the opinion that direct public intervention in the commercial decisionmaking of air carriers on the location of operations should be limited to specific situations such as safeguarding public service operations or distribution of traffic within an airport system on the basis of specific rules established by Community legislation. More general interventions aimed at steering traffic from one airport to another are incompatible with the rules and the goals of air transport liberalisation. Notwithstanding these general principles the Commission is currently examining whether increasing concentration of air transport operations towards few hub airports could be eased by appropriate support measures for enhancing the role of regional airports (secondary hubs) in the overall airport system. It intends to present the outcome of this examination in 2001. In addition, the Commission will continue and strengthen its efforts to conclude air transport agreements for the Community as a whole with third countries that would improve the possibility of regional airports to attract additional traffic. (2000/C 330 E/094) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0111/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Environmental deterioration of the river Tea in Galicia (26 January 2000) Ecological organisations have complained that the river Tea, which flows through south-western Galicia is suffering serious environmental damage due to work linked to land and joins the river Miæo,