WRITTEN QUESTION E-3606/02

by Dieter-Lebrecht Koch (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2002)

Subject: Motor caravanning

The camping and caravanning industry is a major component of the European tourism industry. It offers some 18 million overnight stays, i.e. it has substantially more capacity than the traditional hotel industry which has some 8,7 million beds.

In this connection, one form of holidaymaking which is increasing in scale is that of motor caravanning, one which is independent of specific locations. While on holiday, motor caravanners frequently use not campsites but motor caravan sites which may be provided as external units to campsites and leisure parks or by local authorities seeking to promote urban tourism. In the Member States of the EU, however, although there are 16 000 campsites, there are no more than about 640 motor caravan sites. The ratio is somewhat more favourable in Germany. With the quantitative increase in motor caravanning (the number of motor caravans has risen over the past ten years by almost 70 % and now totals 992 194 vehicles), and also as a result of demand for better facilities, we may expect an increase in the demand for motor caravan sites throughout Europe. Above all, motor caravanners' requirements with regard to greater safety may be met, provided that the sites are properly equipped. In addition, motor caravan sites generally provide facilities for water supply and for the disposal of waste water from the vehicle's sanitary installations and/or rubbish bins for waste generated during the journey. In this way, motor caravan sites also help to foster an environmentally sound attitude among motor caravanners. Frequently, the mere indication of motor caravan sites, with such vehicles being directed to parking spaces with the requisite dimensions, helps the general traffic flow, since the search for a parking space and the traffic obstruction caused when these comparatively large vehicles are being parked may be excluded to a very large extent.

To what extent does the Commission intend to take account of this need and establish institutionally accountable bodies to be responsible for motor caravanning and/or draw up uniform planning projects and/or lay down guidelines for motor caravan sites?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2003)

The Commission is aware of the importance of camping and caravanning in Europe. According to Eurostat, the European Union's Statistical Office, and to information provided by the Member States, the capacity of campsites in the EU is almost equal to that of hotels and similar facilities. There is no question that motor caravans account for an increasing share of open-air accommodation, and that they require suitable sites.

However, institutional or regulatory arrangements in the area of tourism do not fall within the European Community's areas of competence. For this reason the Commission is not planning to take any measures of the kind envisaged by Honourable Member with regard to motor caravanning and motor caravan sites. Rather, this is a task that Member States should address at a national or regional level, depending on their own constitutional arrangements.