WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2087/98 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. Harmful effects of CS gas
C 118/22 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (23 September 1998) The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to the answer given to Written Question E-2510/97 by Mr Rauti (1). It would note that, on its reading of the judgment referred to by the Honourable Member, the Constitutional Court refused to rule that constitutional rights had been infringed. The Court had simply referred to the right of the Italian legislature to modify the unsatisfactory tax treatment of single-income families. In any event, the Commission would have no jurisdiction to make representations to the Italian authorities if the Italian constitution were infringed. (1) OJ C 117, 16. 4. 1998. (1999/C 118/026) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2083/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Fatal accidents in Greece (10 July 1998) According to Eurostat No 1298 of 2 June 1998, the figures for road accidents in Greece are the most disturbing in the Union in that it is the only Member State in which fatal road accidents increased between 1989 and 1995, by 29 %, whereas in most countries the number fell. What, in the Commissionís view, are the main reasons for these alarming figures? What measures will it take in cooperation with the Greek Government to deal with this situation? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1998) As indicated by the Honourable Member, Greece is the only Member State where an increase in the number of road accidents has occured in recent years. The Commission considers that the prime responsibility for analysing and identifying the possible causes for such negative trends is with national authorities. However, the Commission provides tools and statistics to the individual Member States (e. g. the CARE database) in order to enable them to compare national situations. When making such comparisons, specific national circumstances should clearly be kept in mind, particularly those relating to risk exposure where parameters such as numbers of vehicles, demographic patterns, infrastructure can have a quite significant influence. The Commission continues to be ready to discuss the relevant issues with national authorities whenever Member State administrations consider that such an approach could have productive effects in increasing safety. (1999/C 118/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2087/98 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (10 July 1998) Subject: Harmful effects of CS gas Following the increasing concerns about the harmful effects of CS gas, will the Commission undertake a study into the risks to human health of orthochlorobenzylidene malononitrile?