WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2430/98 by Frédéric STRIBY to the Commission. Road transport - harmonisation of conditions of competition
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/57 (1999/C 135/066) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2430/98 by Frédéric Striby (I-EDN) to the Commission (30 July 1998) Subject: Road transport − harmonisation of conditions of competition The French Ministry of Transport tabled a ‘memorandum’ with the Commission on 19 November 1997 asking for driving and rest times to be harmonised through the incorporation of times other than driving times in Regulation 3820/85 (1). Has the Commission considered these proposals? What are the current European rules on this matter? (1) OJ L 370, 31. 12. 1985, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (16 October 1998) On 19 November 1997, the French government submitted a memorandum to the Council for European harmonisation of social rules in road transport. The memorandum made suggestions in three areas: regulations of all periods of activities in road transport particularly for drivers; the introduction of obligatory professional training for all drivers; and a harmonisation of enforcement measures and penalties. The Commission took note of the suggestions and indeed is actively engaged in addressing all three areas. Firstly, in the absence of an agreement between the Social Partners on Working Time, the Commission is drawing up its own proposals for Community-wide rules covering ‘mobile’ workers in road haulage. The Commission also intends to propose to extend the Working Time Directive (93/104) to cover non-mobile workers. Secondly, a Commission communication on driver training is in preparation. Thirdly, the Commission is gathering information from the Member States to form the basis of a report on the efficiency and effectiveness of enforcement levels and current penalties. (1999/C 135/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/98 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) and James Janssen van Raay (UPE) to the Council (30 July 1998) Subject: Suspension of payments from budget items devoted to organizations caring for the elderly 1. Is the Council of Ministers aware that the Commission decision of 10 July 1998 to suspend payments from some 40 budget items devoted to European cooperation in areas including care for the elderly constitutes a serious handicap for European NGOs which have requested subsidies? Does the Council share my view that this suspension runs counter to the rules of sound financial 2. management? 3. What steps has the Council taken, as we approach 1999, the UN Year of the Elderly, to lift that suspension? Does the Council realize that the decision to suspend payments is incompatible with the objective of 4. encouraging senior citizens to involve themselves in EU affairs and that it will, inter alia, sharply reduce the degree of interest of European senior citizens in the forthcoming European elections in June 1999? Is the Council aware that the suspension of payments gives a totally false signal to the social services 5. organizations which work to improve the welfare of the elderly in Europe?