WRITTEN QUESTION E-2397/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Road infrastructure in Carrara.
C 280 E/40 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Reply (13 March 2000) The Council has been discussing the problems posed by transport in the Alps in the light of the recent accidents in the Tauern and Mont Blanc tunnels. It has recommended operational preventive measures which could be planned at European level and offer greater safety to citizens travelling in Europe and has invited the Commission to submit proposals enabling it to draw up recommendations for improving tunnel safety and further developing uniform high safety standards applicable throughout Europe. Regarding the specific question put by the Honourable Member, it is, however, not for the Council to comment on a situation which is the responsibility of national authorities. The Council is still awaiting Commission proposals. (2000/C 280 E/038) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2397/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Road infrastructure in Carrara In Carrara, in the region of Tuscany, Italy, marble-working is the largest economic sector, employing over 10 000 people. Recently, the use of lorries with trailers for transporting the marble has been declared to have reached critical levels because of the significant reduction in quality of life it is causing within the city. The problem could be solved by constructing a road to the east of the city, about five kilometres in length, for an investment of ITL 75 billion. This would halve transportation times for marble, reduce city traffic and create an inter-regional route which would connect to the Tyrrhenian Sea ü Brenner Pass European route. The isolation of roads in the region could be overcome once and for all by building just 15 km of expressway connecting eastern Lunigiana to the Apuan coast. Could the Commission therefore say whether there are any specific financial aid measures for carrying out infrastructure work of this kind? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (21 January 2000) The Structural Funds may finance infrastructure projects such as that mentioned by the Honourable Member, provided they are located in an eligible area. The Commission is still awaiting the revised proposal by the Italian authorities under the regulatory provisions governing Objective 2 during the next programming period (2000-2006 (1)). (1) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999