WRITTEN QUESTION E-3086/00

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(2 October 2000)

Subject: Article 192 of the EC Treaty

Under Article 192 of the Treaty of Maastricht, Parliament was given the right to request by an absolute majority of its Members that the Commission submit any appropriate proposal on matters on which it considers that a Community act is required for the purpose of implementing this Treaty.

Can the Commission confirm that six such resolutions were adopted during the 1994-1999 legislative period, namely on:

- hotel fire safety (20 April 1994)

- environmental damage (4 May 1994)

- settlement of claims arising from traffic accidents occurring outside the claimant's country of origin (26 October 1995)

- health cards (17 April 1996)

- forest strategy (30 January 1997)

- network access for renewable energies (17 June 1998)?

Is it the case that, to date, only one of those resolutions has resulted in the Commission submitting a specific legislative proposal?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 2000)

The Commission recognises the importance of the six reports adopted by Parliament based on Article 192 (ex Article 138b) of the EC Treaty and in virtually all cases has acted upon them in the manner sought by Parliament. Specifically, in one case the legislation called for has already been adopted, in a second case Parliament is due to discuss the Commission proposal in first reading shortly and in a third case a framework directive will be proposed by the end of 2001. Set out below are the initiatives which have been taken in all six cases.

The Jackson report (A3-0310/94) on Fire safety in hotels led to a study which has been sent to Parliament.

The Alber report (A3-0232/94) on Preventing and remedying environmental damage led to a white paper on environmental liability(1) which was adopted in February 2000. The Commission will consider proposing a framework directive before the end of 2001.

The Rothley report (A4-0201/95) on the settlement of claims arising from traffic accidents which occur outside the country of origin of the claimant has resulted in a legislative proposal(2) which has now become Directive 2000/26/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (Fourth motor insurance Directive)(3).

With regard to the Leopardi report (A4-0091/96) on a European health card, many of the ideas have been taken up in the eEurope initiative.

The Thomas report (A4-0414/96) on forestry in the Community led to a communication(4) which in turn led to a Council resolution of 15 December 1998 on a forestry strategy for the European Union(5) and formed an important part of Council Regulation (EC) no 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development for the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain regulations(6).

The Commission adopted a proposal for a directive(7) on 10 May 2000 following the Linkhor report (A4-0199/98) on Network access for renewable energies. Parliament is expected to give this proposal its first reading in the November I plenary session. The rapporteur is Mrs Rothe.

(1) COM(2000) 66 final.

(2) OJ C 343, 13.11.1997.

(3) OJ L 181, 20.7.2000.

(4) COM(98) 649 final.

(5) OJ C 56, 26.2.1999.

(6) OJ C 160, 26.6.1999.

(7) OJ C 311 E, 31.10.2000.