WRITTEN QUESTION P-2195/99 by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission. Transport between airport terminals.
C 219 E/116 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 Has the Commission and its own experts in this field taken in the latest research findings pursuant to which trichloroethylene should be classified as carcinogenic? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (4 January 2000) Since 1976 trichloroethylene has a Community wide áharmonisedí classification as a dangerous substance in Annex I of Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous sub- stances (1). Since 1988 trichloroethylene falls into category 3 of the carcinogenic substances (possible carcinogenic effects on man). Furthermore it is classified as dangerous to the environment since 1996. Concerning the ban on trichloroethylene in Sweden, it is important to note that there are a number of exemptions for industry from this ban. the Commission have been intensively discussing The regular expert meetings held on behalf of trichloroethylene since 1996 to review its classification and labelling. In doing so they consider latest research results. This includes dicussions at national level such as the meeting of experts on 2 December 1999 in Frankfurt am Main, where a number of epidemiological studies causing concern were critically evaluated. The frequent discussions on trichloroethylene and the careful evaluation of existing data show that it is inappropriate to claim that the Commission has traditionally taken a lenient attitude towards this substance. (1) OJ 196, 16. 8. 1967. (2000/C 219 E/147) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2195/99 by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission (19 November 1999) Subject: Transport between airport terminals The issue of transport between airport terminals which arose recently in connection with the planned transfer of flights from Linate to Malpensa also arises for passengers who fly into Athens on an airline other than Olympic Airways and are obliged to continue their journey on that carrier, which serves most domestic destinations. Arrangements for transport between terminals at Athens airport are left entirely up to the passengers themselves who are obliged to bear the cost of a journey that takes them outside the airport boundaries (unlike at Malpensa, where the transfer is made inside the airport itself by means of a complimentary shuttle service). This situation may prompt passengers flying into Greece to opt for Olympic Airways rather than another carrier, so as save time and trouble, and therefore places Olympic Airways in a privileged position. Is this situation in keeping with EU law? Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1999) According to the information we have at the Commission there is a paying shuttle service at Athens- Hellenikon airport between the East terminal, where all carriers not belonging to the Olympic Airways group fly from, and the West terminal, used by Olympic Airways. 1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/117 However, the Commission takes the view that the low cost of this shuttle (DRA 250/€ 0,75 from 5 a. m. to midnight and DRA 500/€ 1,25 from midnight to 5 a. m. ) and the journey time (10 minutes) are unlikely to prompt passengers travelling to a Greek island or a provincial town in Greece served by Olympic Airways to opt for an international flight with this carrier rather than another. In any event, the Commission notes that following the liberalisation of access to intracommunity domestic links (1 April 1997) and the liberalisation of access to links with the Greek islands (1 April 1998) Olympic Airways is faced with certain competition on the domestic market from newly established Greek carriers (e. g. Cronus Airlines, Air Greece). These carriers all fly from the East terminal, so passengers using the international services of carriers operating from this terminal can take connecting flights without having to change terminal. (2000/C 219 E/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/99 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council (30 November 1999) Subject: Combating world hunger The first report recently published by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a bleak picture of the world situation since the target set in 1996 to halve the numbers suffering from hunger by the year 2015 does not seem to be materialising. 204 million people in India, 164 million in China, half the population of North Korea and Mongolia, 1/3 of the peoples of Cambodia, Laos and sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from hunger, while two in every five children are undernourished. Bearing in mind that the UN had decided that the developed countries should spend 0,7 % of their GDP on humanitarian aid to the developing countries, will the Council say whether that decision is being implemented and by which Member States of the European Union? Reply (31 January 2000) The final declaration of the World Food Summit held in Rome in November 1996 fixed the long-term objective of eliminating hunger in all countries and in particular halving the numbers suffering from hunger by the year 2015. Meeting this target would constitute a tremendous advance for humanity. For its part, the Council has given high priority, in the framework of the measures to reduce poverty, to activities aimed at increasing food security. In this context, the Council intends to study closely the results of the evaluation shortly to begin of the working of the June 1996 Regulation on food aid and food security. It hopes to be able to draw conclusions which will lead to an increase in the quality and efficiency of operations to ensure food security in developing countries. The Council has no precise information on the progress made by Member States towards achieving the target of providing 0,7 % of their GDP as development assistance. (2000/C 219 E/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/99 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Extreme poverty and social exclusion (29 November 1999) Article 137 of the Treaty of Amsterdam establishes a new legal basis for the adoption of measures to combat social exclusion. Unfortunately, hard statistics on the scale of this social reality, which might make it possible to reach all those affected by social exclusion and/or extreme poverty more effectively, are not available