WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3241/98 by Patrick COX to the Commission. Recommendation 1030/96 from the Committee on Petitions - safety standards for riding helmets
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/109 How will the Commission ascertain the scope for assisting victims of crime through Community policies? What view does the Commission take of the idea that crime victim services operating in the European Union could receive Community funding? Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1998) In order to address the issue of victims of crime in Europe, the Commission has included the issue in its work programme for 1999, when it will initiate appropriate consultations with a view to taking subsequent initiatives for strengthening the situation of victims in Europe. The Commission does not consider that Community funding for victim services should be the norm. The main responsibility for funding victim services is with the Member States, which have voluntarily subscribed to international obligations to provide adequate services of this nature. The Commission has, however, on occasion supported financially individual projects in the field of victims of crimes in the context of its Grotius, STOP and Daphne programmes. (1999/C 142/135) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3241/98 by Patrick Cox (ELDR) to the Commission (19 October 1998) Subject: Recommendation 1030/96 from the Committee on Petitions − safety standards for riding helmets Following the recommendation from the Committee on Petitions (1030/96) concerning the EN1384 standard for riding helmets and the Commission’s obligation to comply with Directive 89/686/EEC (1), can the Commission indicate what progress has been made to date, if any, on the ‘urgent review’ requested by the Committee on Petitions? (1) OJ L 399, 30. 12. 1989, p. 18. Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1998) In September 1998 the Commission sent, as requested, information relating to EN 1384 standard ‘Helmets for equestrian activities’ to the petitions committee of the Parliament. Three enquiries are presently launched within the European committee for standardisation (CEN) (technical committee CEN/TC 158 ‘Head protection’ and its working group WG5 ‘Helmets for horse riders’) on EN 1384. The first pertains to the normal procedure of revising standards every five years. WG 5 has started work on the next revision of EN 1384 which is due in 2001. The second concerns a draft amendment to EN 1384 which was issued by CEN for enquiry in July and will finish in December 1998. The third will answer the specific issues raised by the petitioner. The questions put by the petitioner were addressed specifically and in the general context of the work programme for EN 1384 and last discussed at the meeting of TC158/WG5 on 14 October 1998. The petitioner was present at that meeting and has been invited to take part in future work. It was decided to launch a third enquiry in parallel to the two previous enquiries, on the revision and the draft amendment. Its aim will be to determine the main causes of injury in riding accidents and review the relevant statistics. To that effect a questionnaire has been prepared and circulated by the convenor. An answer is awaited from each delegation in January 1999. These questionnaires will also be sent to the equestrian federations. The next meeting of the working group is planned at the beginning of March 1999