WRITTEN QUESTION E-2378/99 by Juan Izquierdo Collado (PSE) to the Commission. Safety of coach travel.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/55 fire stations, reservoirs and waterworks and forest fire prevention work (roads acting as firebreaks, observation posts, supplies and equipment and reservoirs). The Cohesion Fund is also part-financing (85 %) the project for the protection of the natural and forest environment in Greece, costing a total of € 37 million. Part-financing is going on fire-fighting measures (provision of the necessary equipment) and constructing, improving and equipping fire stations, as well as the construction of 150 reservoirs. Under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 on protection of the Communityís forests against fire (1), between 1992 and 1999 the Commission also part-financed (50 %) 86 projects (assistance totalling € 19,85 million). These projects relate mainly to fire prevention work in forests, protective infrastructures such as tracks, firebreaks and water points, plus monitoring, involving, for instance, the construction of lookout towers and the training of specialist personnel. A regionalised information system has also been set up as an important tool for fire prevention and for analysing needs. With regard to reafforestation, public expenditure totalling € 298,7 million, including part-financing from the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund amounting to € 224 mil- lion, has been allocated to the forestry sector under the second CSF and Community initiatives. This amount has practically all been committed and relates to a large number of forestry sites all over Greece, covering a wide range of activities such as protection, replanting and forestry development. The above figures show the intensity of the effort to assist the forestry sector in Greece. As regards plans to improve the state of the Kifisos, the Commission has on several occasions sought information from the Greek authorities about the pollution problem. The matter was discussed at the meeting on 9 and 10 December 1999 with the Greek authorities, who referred to the measures and checks already carried out. The Commission was, however, given no information about alterations to watercourses and will contact the Greek authorities again to obtain all the relevant details. The European Regional Development Fund could in principle part-finance eligible measures in the areas affected by flooding, if the Greek authorities submitted an application to that end. (1) OJ L 217, 31. 7. 1992. (2000/C 303 E/049) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2378/99 by Juan Izquierdo Collado (PSE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Safety of coach travel On 19 September 1999, 29 people died and 25 others were seriously injured as a result of a coach accident which occurred in the vicinity of Zaragoza (Spain). In recent years, 398 people have lost their lives in such accidents in Spain, 91 of whom were school-age children. In the light of this information, is the Commission planning to take any action to increase the safety of coach travel? Does the Commission think that there should be any tightening up of the rules on the technical inspection of vehicles, speed limits, rest breaks during long journeys, breathalyser tests, etc. ? What does the Commission think of the introduction of measures such as the compulsory wearing of seatbelts or the fitting of air bags to passenger seats? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (27 January 2000) The Community has already taken several legislative actions at the European level to improve the safety of buses. These include Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 of 20 December 1985 on the harmonisation legislation relating to road transport (1); Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 of of certain social in road transport (1); Council Directive 92/6/EEC of 20 December 1985 on recording equipment 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor C 303 E/56 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 vehicles in the Community (2); Commission Directive 96/36/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 77/541/EEC relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles (3); Commission Directive 96/37/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/408/ EEC relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (strength of seats and of their anchorages) (4); Commission Directive 96/38/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/115/ EEC relating to anchorages for motor vehicle safety belts (5); Council Directive 91/439EC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences (6), as amended by Council Directive 97/26/EC of 2 June 1997 (7); and Council Directive 96/96/EC of 20 December 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (8). In addition the Commission has forwarded a proposal for a Parliament and Council directive relating to special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driverís seat and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC (9) which includes requirements that coaches can withstand rollover tests; requirements that buses and coaches can tilt to their sides a certain number of degrees, and requirements on the size, positioning and number of emergency exists. A second Commission proposal that should be adopted soon will require all Member States to undertake regular roadside inspections of buses and lorries to ensure the safety of vehicles on the road. As for the Honourable Memberís request about European legislation on the mandatory wearing of seat belts on coaches the Commission currently has no plans to change the current Directive. Whilst the Commission recognises the positive safety aspects of seat belts on coaches and endorses their use it would be premature to have legislation on mandatory use until a significant proportion of the Community coach fleet is fitted with seat belts to the necessary Community standards. As for airbags on coaches the Commission notes that there is no Community manufacturer at present building coaches with airbags fitted throughout. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to legislate for such a requirement at this stage. (1) OJ L 370, 31. 12. 1985. (2) OJ L 57, 2. 3. 1992. (3) OJ L 178, 17. 7. 1996. (4) OJ L 186, 25. 7. 1996. (5) OJ L 187, 26. 7. 1996. (6) OJ L 237, 24. 8. 1991. (7) OJ L 162, 19. 6. 1997. (8) OJ L 46, 17. 2. 1997. (9) OJ C 17, 20. 1. 1998. (2000/C 303 E/050) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2398/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Use of sewage sludge as a fertiliser in the agricultural sector In a number of EU Member States, including the Belgian Federation, sludge from waste water purification plants is used as a fertiliser in the agricultural sector. The sludge is usually highly polluted with heavy metals. Scientific research (Adeline Montcharmont: Les risques sanitaires liØs à líØpandage des boues de stations díØpuration urbaines, Ecole nationale vØtØrinaire de Lyon, thŁse numØro 31, 1999) also shows that such sludge can be infected with bacteria, viruses and parasites. Both these facts necessitate further research and an appropriate approach at all policy levels. In which EU Member States is sludge from waste water purification plants used as a fertiliser in the 1. agricultural sector? 2. Which Member States have restrictions in force on the use of such sludge as fertiliser?