WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1666/97 by David BOWE to the Commission. Control of volatile organic compounds
Date: 1997-05-20
Institutions: BOWE, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, distributor, national law, organic chemical, petrol, pollution control, pollution control measures, retail outlet, stratospheric pollution

C 21/80

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 1. 98

(98/C 21/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1666/97

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(20 May 1997)

Subject: Control of volatile organic compounds

Is the Commission going to proceed with the drafting of a proposal for the control of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), resulting from refuelling operations at service stations (Stage II Directive)? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 1997)

From an environmental point of view, the volatile organic compounds (VOC) losses due to refuelling at filling
stations are a small percentage, (2%), of the total man-made losses at European level.

Seven  Member  States  (Denmark,  Germany,  Italy,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  Austria  and  Sweden)  have
introduced domestic legislation on VOC control. France will use the framework legislation on air quality as a
basis for introduction in specific locations (large cities, heavily polluted areas). It is understood that the United
Kingdom (UK) will also introduce VOC stage II measures for a limited number of service stations.

In addition, other Member States are currently reviewing the results of pilot projects (Greece, Finland) or have
recently entered into discussions with their national petroleum federation(Belgium).

In these circumstances it would appear that the additional environmental benefits in terms of reduced emissions
which would result from a Commission initiative on stage II are marginal. A legislative proposal on VOC stage II
does not therefore rank among the current priorities.

However, the current work on the ozone strategy expected to be adopted by the Commission in spring 1998, will
take  account  of  the  emissions  from  this  sector.  On  the  basis  of  the  conclusions  of  the  strategy  to  combat
tropospheric ozone the Commission will review the need for and nature of any future Community initiatives on
refuelling losses.

(98/C 21/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1677/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(7 May 1997)

Subject: EIB funding and the Jubilee in Rome

In reply to Written Question E-0178/97 (1), which I tabled on 3 February 1997, the Commission stated that the
EIB had awarded a loan of Lire 1.4 billion to the Commune of Rome and the Region of Lazio for a programme of
works in connection with the Jubilee in the year 2000 ((cid:145)Roma 2000(cid:146)). Recently, however, the head of the Mayor
of Rome(cid:146)s office acknowledged that there was a considerable risk that many of the planned works would not be
completed: despite the fact that the year 2000 is less than one thousand days away, there has been practically no
progress on the projects in question, while the Deputy Mayor with responsibility for transport in the Commune of
Rome continues to announce possible drastic changes to the plan which are delaying its implementation.

1.  What is the Commission(cid:146)s opinion on the feasibility of completing the five hundred or so works included in

the Jubilee plan which the EIB is helping to finance?

2.  Would the Commission clarify, if possible, the arrangements for the provision of funds, i.e whether the EIB
contribution will be paid in a single tranche on the basis of the plan as a whole or whether the works will be
scrutinized individually and the respective funds paid in successive instalments?

3.  Are the continual delays in the completion of the works in question › for which the communal authorities in
Rome are responsible › jeopardizing the Commune of Rome(cid:146)s prospects of actually benefiting from EIB
funding for the Jubilee?

(1)  OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 33.