WRITTEN QUESTION E-0176/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Municipality of Rome's parking ban and levy of entry charge

For the Jubilee, the municipality of Rome has decided to prevent tourist coaches parking in the city and has also imposed an entry charge on them. This decision is certain to cause significant losses for tourist and transport firms.

Does the Commission not consider that the decision is also detrimental to non-Italian European tourist firms which had organised trips to Rome before the municipality's decision?

How does the Commission intend to reply to the protest it has received from the BDO, the association of German coach operators?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2000)

The closure of central Rome has prompted questions from various organisations. The Commission replied to the German Transport Association (BDO) by letter

dated 18 January 2000 and is also preparing a reply to a question from the German authorities. Having studied the dossier provided by the Italian authorities, and with regard to the restrictions placed on the movement of tourist coaches in the city centre, the Commission finds that the Italian authorities have not infringed Community law.

Given the large numbers of visitors expected in Rome during the year 2000 (around 29 million visitors, with between 2 000 and 2 500 coaches per day), the plan drawn up by the city authorities has several objectives. It is designed to conserve the city's cultural and architectural heritage, protect the health and quality of life of the people of Rome and limit the already serious levels of pollution.

To this end, the city authorities are planning to divide the city into a number of zones, some of which will be off limits to all traffic. However, sites will be provided for tourist coaches, facilities will be organised for setting travellers down in the city centre, and city centre access control points will be set up at which coaches will be directed to specified parking areas. Exceptions will be made for certain categories of traveller, such as the handicapped. Measures will be taken to improve the city's urban transport network and road signs. All the contracts for carrying out these measures will be awarded via invitation to tender so as to ensure transparency and the requisite competition.

These measures are in line with Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92(1) as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 11/98 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus,(2) and in particular Article 12, which allows local excursions to be carried out within the framework of an international service. It should be borne in mind that the main purpose of Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 is to regulate international transport. Local authorities' policing powers allow them to regulate local traffic. The application of Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 is without prejudice to the application of this policing power as proposed by the City of Rome.

Accordingly, the Commission does not envisage initiating proceedings against Italy for infringement of Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92.

The plan submitted by the Italian authorities does not indicate the existence of an entry charge. In any event, as local taxes are not harmonised at Community level, the introduction of an entry charge on tourist coaches could not run counter to Community law unless it contained discriminatory provisions, such as the application of a higher charge for coaches from other Member States.

(1) OJ L 74, 20.3.1992.

(2) OJ L 4, 8.1.1998.