3. Whereistheissueofbiopticdrivingontheiragenda,andwhat,ifany,proactiveactionsorenquiries
aretheypursuingonthissubject?
4. Dotheyhaveanyprojectedtimeframewithinwhichtheyanticipatedevelopments?
AnswergivenbyMrsdePalacioonbehalfoftheCommission
(30April2003)
While the creation of medical working groups, including one on vision, has been announced to the
DrivingLicenceCommitteewhichapprovedoftheprinciple,theseworkinggroupshavenotyetbeenestablished,norhavetermsofreferencebeenfixedormembersappointed.ThefuturemedicalworkinggroupswillbeevaluatingthemedicalrequirementstodriveaslaiddowninAnnexIIIofCouncilDirective91/439/EECof29July1991ondrivinglicences(
1),whichwereestablishedin1991.
TheissueofbiopticdrivingisstillinanexperimentalstageintheUnion.Sofartheuseofbiopticlenses
hasnotbeenallowed,andisnotexpectedtobeforthenearfuture,asitshouldfirstbethoroughlyinvestigatedanddiscussed.
Asthemedicalworkinggrouponvisionhasnotyetbeenestablished,itisnotpossibletoaffirmifthis
subjectwillbeanissueontheagenda.
(1) OJL237,24.8.1991.
(2004/C58E/071) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1258/03
byCamiloNogueiraRomán(Verts/ALE)totheCommission
(3April2003)
Subject:ShipbuildingattheIzar-FeneshipyardintheRíadoFerrol,Galicia
TheGalicianParliamentrecentlyapprovedaproposalrequestingthattheIzar-FeneshipyardintheRíado
Ferrol,Galicia,beallowedtobuildshipsagain/dashanactivityinwhichithadreachedworld-class,buildingshipsupto300000tonnes/dashandthatitshouldbeabletocontinuemanufacturingoff-shoreequipment.TheIzar-Feneshipyard,formerlyAstanoandnowpartoftheIzarcompany,wouldthusnolongersufferfromthediscriminationwhichled,indifferentcircumstances,toitbeingbannedfrombuildingmerchantships,causingaseriouseconomiccrisisintheFerrolregion.Theneedtorenewtheworldfleetforthetransportofoilderivativesanddangerousgoods,whichisparticularlyurgentgiventhedisastrouseffectsofaccidentssuchasthatinvolvingthe‘Prestige’offtheGaliciancoast,speaksinfavourofsuchadecision,
whichwouldmakeasignificantcontributiontothedevelopmentofboththeFerrolregionandGaliciaasa
whole.
WhatdecisionwilltheCommissiontakeontherequestfromtheGalicianParliament,whichreflectsthe
desireexpressedbythewholeofGaliciansociety?
AnswergivenbyMrMontionbehalfoftheCommission
(23May2003)
ItmaybeworthrecallingthatFene(exAstano)shipyardisclosedtoshipbuildingbecausethiswasoneof
the conditionswhen the Commissionauthorised(
1)Spaintogrant substantialrestructuring aidtothe6.3.2004EN C58E/53 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
publicSpanishshipyards.ItcanfurthermorebenotedthattherelevantCommissiondecisionwaspartly
basedonCouncilRegulation(2)1013/97of2June1997onaidtocertainshipyardsunderrestructuring,
which also stated the condition on the non-reopening to shipbuilding at Astano. However, theCommissionhasnotreceivedanyformalrequestfromtheSpanishgovernmentconcerningtheFeneyardandhasnottakenanypositiononthisissue.
(1) OJC354,21.11.1997,p.2.
(2) OJL148,6.6.1997,p.1.
(2004/C58E/072) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1260/03
byCamiloNogueiraRomán(Verts/ALE)totheCommission
(3April2003)
Subject:PresenceofGalicianvesselsinthedevelopmentofthefishingindustryinBrazil
IstheCommissionawareoftheexperiencesoffishingvesselsfromGalicianportssuchasVigo,LaCoruña,
RibeiraandMarínwhichareworkingorhaveworkedinwatersunderexclusiveBraziliancompetence,hiring licences from Brazilian companies? Will the Commission take advantage of the desire forcooperation shown by the new Brazilian government and take steps which might lead to mutuallybeneficialagreements?
AnswergivenbyMrFischleronbehalfoftheCommission
(16May2003)
At present there is no fisheries agreement between the Community and Brazil. Thus any fishing in
Brazilian waters by vessels flying the flag of a Member State is not covered by such an agreement.TheCommissiondoesnotruleoutthepossibilitythatunderprivatecontractsCommunityvesselshavebeenallowedtofishinthesewaters.
TheCommissionhasmaintainedcontactinthepastwithBrazilinordertoexplorethepossibilityof
reachingmutuallyadvantageousagreementsinthefisheriessector.Thesehavehowevernevergivenrisetoformalnegotiations.
TheCommissionisreadytoconsultregularlywithBrazilonquestionsofmutualinterestinthesector.Ifa
desireforcooperationarrangementswastobeconfirmeditwouldbereadytodiscussdirectlywhatthecontentoftheseshouldbe.
(2004/C58E/073) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1268/03
byAntonioDiPietro(ELDR)totheCommission
(3April2003)
Subject:RulesgoverninglocalradiobroadcastersinItaly
Article1(2)(a)ofLawNo66of20March2001requiresthatcommerciallocalradiobroadcastersinItaly
have the legal status of partnerships or joint stock companies that employ at least two people inconformitywiththesocialsecurityprovisionsinforce.C58E/54 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion