WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1412/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. High-speed trains at Lunghezza
Date: 1997-04-22
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: European Commission, Italy, Latium, application of EU law, environmental impact, exchange of information, high-speed transport, impact study, rail transport, residential area

C 45/28

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

filters  for  liquids,  provided  by  point  6.2(g)  of  the  Annex  to  Commission  Directive  91/659/EEC,  is  intended
primarily to prevent exposure of maintenance workers to airborn asbestos fibres, though it does also avoid the
take-up of fibres in the filtered liquid. This measure complements provisions in Directive 83/477/EEC (1) on the
protection  of  workers  from  asbestos.    The  Commission  furthermore  will  continue  to  study  all  possible  risks
associated with drinking water pipes containing asbestos as part of the work programme on asbestos.

The Commission drew up, in 1993, a draft proposal for a directive to ban asbestos with exemptions. However, no
qualified  majority  could  be  identified  for  the  draft  proposal.  The  Commission  relaunched  discussions  on  the
asbestos  question  with  Member  State  experts  in  1996.  The  last  meetings  were  on  26th  July  1996  and
7th November 1996. The Commission intends to examine, as quickly as possible, all the most recent scientific,
technical and economical analyses in order to review the policy with regard to asbestos.

(1)  OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.

(98/C 45/33)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1395/97

by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission

(22 April 1997)

Subject: Restrictions on regional development funds

Regional development funds were provided for the development of airport facilities at Benbecula in the Western
Isles. this is an airport also used for military purposes, particularly with reference to the Royal Artillery range and
the RAF.

Were any specific restrictions put on the spending of European Union funds on civilian facilities rather than
military ones and, if not, why not?

Supplementary answer
given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(13 August 1997)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to his oral question H-0494/97 during
question time at Parliament(cid:146)s July 1997 part-session (1).

(1)  Debates of the Parliament (July 1997).

(98/C 45/34)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1412/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(22 April 1997)

Subject: High-speed trains at Lunghezza

Directive  85/337/EEC (1),  as  recently  amended  by  Directive  97/11/EC (2),  provides  (in  Article  4)  that  an
environmental impact assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 must be carried out in the event of the
construction of (cid:145)lines(cid:146) for long-distance railway traffic (Annex I).

Contrary to the above provision, the Municipality of Rome, together with the Region of Lazio and Iricav, drew
up a works project in January 1996 for a stretch of high-speed line between Rome and Naples at Lunghezza,
Rome.

That plan did not provide for consultation of the area(cid:146)s inhabitants, even though this is required by Directive
85/337.