WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. The state of the development of the Lyon-Turin-Milan-Verona-Venice-Trieste.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/27 (2000/C 330 E/029) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2617/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Environmental effects of growth in UK sheep numbers What is the Commissionís assessment of the growth in UK sheep numbers, and of the consequent effects upon habitats and species diversity, since Britain joined the former European Economic Community and became subject to the common agricultural policy? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) Sheep numbers in the United Kingdom remained fairly stable in the first years following accession to the Community in 1973 but began to rise steadily in the 1980ís after the commencement of the sheepmeat regime. This period saw a significant development in export opportunities due to easier access to the French market. Between 1980 and 1993 sheep numbers rose by 40 % in the United Kingdom. Following the reform of the sheep regime and introduction of individual limits for producers in 1993, numbers stabilized although they have risen again in 1997 and 1998 in the wake of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis and the resulting increase in demand for lamb. Sheep numbers are expected to decline in 1999 and 2000. Article 5d of Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89 of 25 September 1989 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat (1) has provided a mechanism for the United Kingdom to link the payment of direct support to respect for the environment in so far as sheep production is concerned. The British authorities have indicated that they have made use of this provision in order to avoid problems of overgrazing. This provision has now been greatly strengthened in Article 3 of Regulation 1259/99 in the recent common agricultural policy reform. Community nature conservation legislation (2) also provides a relevant framework for ensuring that sheep stocking levels do not lead to ecological damage in areas of high nature conservation value, included in the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. (1) OJ L 296, 14. 10. 1989. (2) Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992). (2000/C 330 E/030) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: The state of the development of the Lyon-Turin-Milan-Verona-Venice-Trieste According to forecasts concerning the construction of the TEN Lyon-Trieste route, work on this line should be finished in 2010. In particular, the Turin-Milan section is scheduled to be completed in 2006, the Milan-Verona and Verona-Venice sections in 2008 and the Venice-Trieste section in 2010. This network, one of the 14 trans-European projects in the transport sector to be cofinanced by the Union, represents one of the most important components of the future development of communications within the Union and should also contribute to greatly strengthening links between Member States and the states of central and south-eastern Europe, tackling the problems posed today by the transport of goods by road, in particular the environmental problems in the Alpine region. C 330 E/28 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Does not the Commission believe that in view of the particular importance of this project, it would be appropriate to speed up its completion, with particular regard to the Lyon-Turin link? Can the Commission indicate the reasons why the main parties interested in the project have shown such little desire to hasten its completion? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (3 March 2000) The Commission has always very clearly expressed its support for the combined-transport Lyon-Trieste high speed train (TGV) project. That support has taken the practical form of Community subsidies (roughly EUR 120 million) granted to studies for the French, Italian and international parts of the Alpetunnelí European Economic Interest Group (EEIG) since 1993. Half of the financial support provided by the European budget has been earmarked for the international section, including the geotechnical studies for the tunnel, which has a cross-frontier base, and for the major studies of the interoperability between the French and Italian networks. At the Franco-Italian Summit held in Nïmes in 1999 the heads of state and government stressed that the timetable required the EEIG studies to be completed in 2000. The intention, on the basis of those studies, was to take a political decision concerning the subsequent stages of the project (including the base tunnel). It should be noted that, for the Torino-Trieste section, where 460 km of new line are planned, the preparatory work has already begun on the key nodes. Building work on the Torino-Milano and Padova- Mestre sections is to begin in 2000 and these sections should be operational in 2006. The Commission attaches the greatest importance to reaching a political agreement on the basis of the studies already carried out, which would enable the international link to be provided in accordance with the timetable. (2000/C 330 E/031) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2626/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: New ATAC programme and increased pollution in Rome Recently the Rome municipal authority and the municipal public transport company (ATAC) have made several adjustments to the transport programme in the 2nd and 4th municipal districts. The new programme has been strongly opposed by users of the public transport system, as it means that several bus routes will be changed; this will lead to a re-routing of traffic onto roads which are unsuitable for such purposes and hence to an upsurge in air and noise pollution levels. Furthermore, the new ATAC programme makes it far more complicated to use public transport and forces passengers to take two or three different buses where previously they would have had to take just one. Journey times have thus been considerably lengthened. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. Does it not believe that the above measures are in breach of Directive 96/61/EC (1) on integrated pollution prevention and control and of Directive 70/220/EEC (2) and subsequent amendments on air pollution by gases from engines of motor vehicles? 2. Does the increase in pollution which has been registered in several areas not run counter to Directive 82/884/EEC on the limit value for lead in the air?