WRITTEN QUESTION E-3455/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Unexpected situations with regard to authority and ownership discouraging cross-border tourism in the European Union (taking Manchester as an example)

I recently received a complaint from a Netherlands citizen who suffered a surprising and disappointing experience last summer in the United Kingdom. Whilst on holiday in Manchester, he parked his car on a section of a public road (Princess Street) with no identifiable indication of a ban on parking. Subsequently, this turned out to be private land owned by security firm Checquemade Security. The firm in question tows away parked cars, and can only be contacted during office hours on work days. In this case, this meant that the person concerned had to extend his stay in Manchester and pay GBP 180 in order to get his car back. Bystanders described this state of affairs as daylight robbery. However, the local police said that the procedure was regarded as legal. The experience has left the tourist in question feeling astonished and outraged, and he will not be returning to Manchester in a hurry.

The Commission:

1. Does it agree that, whilst, within the European Union, it lies within the competence of local, regional and national authorities to lay down very different rules governing such situations for their area, this may well lead in cases such as the one referred to here to visitors from other areas suffering an unpleasant surprise, to their detriment, in a way which cannot be foreseen, making them feel very uncertain when visiting areas with unfamiliar rules?

2. Does it regard such a state of affairs as compatible with the aim of increasing tourism between Member States?

3. Is it prepared to take steps to see to it that a list is drawn up setting out the rules laid down by the authorities and the possibility of rules laid down by private owners not identifiable as such, which can cause visitors from outside the area an unpleasant surprise, in order to be able to examine, in consultation with the competent authorities, whether any adjustment or harmonisation is called for?

4. How can it contribute to improving the provision of information to tourists concerning the possibility that, when visiting other Member States, they may find themselves the victim of unexpected and inexplicable rules?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The question of the establishment and operation of parking and similar rules and regulations is a matter for each individual Member State, following the principle of subsidiarity. Although this might make it difficult for visitors to be aware of all local rules, the Commission has no plans or authority to examine the need for the adjustment or harmonisation of such rules in the context of tourism. It believes that this situation has no measurable impact on European tourism in general, even if in individual cases, it can cause problems.

Recent Commission studies into the integrated quality management (IQM) of rural, coastal and urban tourist destinations have pointed out that people travel in order to see and experience Europe's diversity, but that it is also important that visitors should be provided with sufficient local information to make their stay a pleasant one. The Commission is ensuring a wide dissemination of the results of these studies, which are intended to provide a management tool for those responsible for tourism development at the local level. Summaries of the recommendations on implementing an IQM approach in each type of destination are available in all Community languages.

The Commission is also currently supporting the work of four sub-groups of the tourism advisory committee, formed of experts nominated by the Member States,

one of which is looking specifically at information needs and provision in the context of tourism. The Commission's progress report on the follow-up to the conclusions of the Council on Tourism and Employment(1) is based on the interim findings of these groups. The report has been adopted recently and is available on the Commission website homepage.

(1) COM(2000) 696 final.