WRITTEN QUESTION E-0586/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. European sustainable transport policy.
26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/67 (2001/C 26 E/083) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0586/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: European sustainable transport policy Will the Commission indicate how, and to what extent, national transport policy-makers in EU Member States have been influenced by the development of a common European transport policy ü particularly as regards the creation of environmentally sustainable transport systems? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (19 April 2000) Most Member States have begun introducing national policies designed to incorporate environmental considerations. The European Council meeting in Cardiff and subsequent European Councils boosted the integration process which must now be sustained and must result in real decisions and the introduction of new instruments to promote, evaluate and oversee the process. Many new measures have been implemented, although in some areas certain Member States are more active than others. A particular example is the link between the reduction in lead emissions and the introduction of tax differentiation for leaded and unleaded petrol. At Community level, the Environment Agency has developed the transport environment reporting mechanism which enables progress in incorporating environmental considerations into the transport sector in Member States to be monitored. Its first report is expected in April 2000. In the context of trans-European network policy, Article 8 of Parliament and Council Decision 1692/96/EC of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (1) reinforces the Member Statesí commitment to make environmental impact assessments when they develop and carry out projects of common interest, in line with Council Directive 85/337/EC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (2) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (3). Moreover, in accordance with Article 18 of the above-mentioned Decision, Member States are obliged to regularly notify the Commission of the national plans and programmes which they have drawn up for the development of the trans-European transport network, in particular for projects of common interest. As regards environmentally sustainable transport systems in cities, and mindful of the principle of subsidiarity, the Commission has focused its efforts on exchanging good practices. In particular, it has contributed by financing ELTIS (European Local Transport Information Service), which is a database of information about local and regional passenger transport, available to elected representatives, politicians, transport operators and managers and, of course, transport users. This database features many case studies and a forum open to the public. Lastly, the database of good practices in the field of urban planning and sustainable development contains good examples of sustainable development. (1) OJ L 228, 9. 9. 1996. (2) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985. (3) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992. (2001/C 26 E/084) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0590/00 by Giles Chichester (PPE-DE) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: EBRD loans to Russian energy companies Can the Council say whether it has any plans to review the operation of the EBRDís Agreement and Guidelines for lending to Russian energy companies?