WRITTEN QUESTION E-1636/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council. Working in Europe over the age of 60.
20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/59 (2000/C 170 E/066) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1636/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council (20 September 1999) Subject: Working in Europe over the age of 60 Is the Council aware that France is refusing to adopt one of the joint aviation regulations, which allows holders of airline transport pilots licences to continue to fly up to the age of 65? France has refused to recognise this new age limit and, as a result, no pilot over the age of 60 may fly over or into France while in charge of a public transport operation. What pressure will the Council put on France to ensure compliance with joint aviation regulations? What obligations are the Member States under as regards the mutual recognition of licences? Reply (22 November 1999) Article 4(5) of Council Directive 91/0670/EEC of 16 December 1991 on mutual acceptance of personnel licences for the exercise of functions in civil aviation lays down that the validation of pilotís licences is authorised where the bearer satisfies the special requirements laid down in the Annex to the Directive. The Annex stipulates an age limit of 60. If a Member State refuses to let holders of airline transport pilots licences continue flying up to the age of 65, its authorities are correctly applying Directive 91/0670/EEC. A similar approach is taken by the International Civil Aviation Authority. Annex I to the Chicago Convention prohibits pilots from taking the commands of commercial flights after the age of 60. Any relaxation of that rule does not have binding effect. (2000/C 170 E/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1637/99 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission (15 September 1999) Subject: Legal documentation forwarded to the Commission regarding the establishment of the EU Food and Veterinary Office at Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland When exactly was the legal documentation regarding the construction of the EU Food and Veterinary Office in Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland presented by the Irish Governmentís Office of Public Works to the Commission, why has it not yet been signed, and when is it likely to be signed? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (11 October 1999) The Office of Public Works presented the legal documentation regarding the construction of the Food and veterinary office (FVO) in Grange, Co. Neath to the Commission through the Commissionís solicitor on 8 June 1999. This documentation was necessary to allow a global verification of the clauses of the contract including financial commitments; an internal procedure requiring the visa of many departments of the Commission; and a memorandum to the budgetary authority in accordance with the statements made by the Commission in preliminary draft supplementary and amending budget No 1/97 (1) which stipulated that áthe Commission will inform the budgetary authority of the long-term costs of the Grange project as soon as the total costs are knowní