WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2751/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Safety of children in aircraft
C 118/134 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 On the basis of the above considerations and the information provided by the Honourable Members, the Commission will contact the Netherlands authorities in order to obtain information on the scope of the Act (koppelingswet) and Circular in question. (1) See judgment of 8 April 1976, case C-48/75 (Royer), ECR 497. (1999/C 118/166) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2746/98 by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission (3 September 1998) Subject: EU attitude to Trinidad and human rights It is reported that Trinidad and Tobago have withdrawn from the American Convention on Human Rights. Can the Commission say whether this is likely to have any impact on the status of Trinidad and Tobago as one of the ACP States currently in receipt of EU aid? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1998) The Commission understands that Trinidad and Tobago has recently deposited a legal instrument of which the effect will be to withdraw from the American Convention on human rights as from 26th May 1999. The purpose seems to be to reduce the possibility of potentially time-consuming appeals procedures blocking the ability of the Trinidad and Tobago authorities from carrying out the death penalty. This is part of the authoritiesí strategy for taking a hard line on criminal offences. The Commission is concerned by this development and has participated in Union demarches to persuade the authorities not to take such measures. At the present time however, the Commission does not consider the actions by Trinidad and Tobago should have an impact on its status as one of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States nor on the current development aid programme. (1999/C 118/167) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (3 September 1998) Subject: Safety of children in aircraft 1. Is the Commission aware that the Rhineland Technical Inspection Agency proved as early as August 1992 by the use of tests with dummies that the use of the áloop beltí poses a potential threat to the lives of children? 2. Is the Commission aware that the European Aviation Safety Authority, with its regulation JAR- OPS1í of 1 April 1998, actually made the use of the loop belt compulsory for Member State airlines, although it has long since been banned in America? 3. What immediate measures will the Commission take to avert the danger to childrenís lives represented by the use of the loop belt? 4. When will the Commission ensure that the use of different age-appropriate restraint systems for children in aeroplanes becomes mandatory? Has the Commission made funds available for the development of such restraint systems? If so, how 5. much? If not, why not?