WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1916/97 by David HALLAM to the Commission. Discrimination against persons on the grounds of height
Date: 1997-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, HALLAM
Subjects: air transport, aircraft, anti-discriminatory measure, carriage of passengers, equal treatment, facilities for people with disabilities, goods and services, technical standard, transport user

C 21/120

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 1. 98

A second proposal for a regulation dealing with procedural issues relating to aid is currently being drawn up.
This  regulation  will,  of  course,  play  a  major  role  in  enhancing  transparency.  It  will  also  contain  provisions
relating to the rights of third parties.

As to the relationship between competition policy and cohesion policy, the Commission has always sought to
take account as far as possible of the objective of cohesion when defining aid policy. Furthermore, it is currently
drafting a new set of guidelines on regional aid.

(98/C 21/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1916/97

by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission

(27 May 1997)

Subject: Discrimination against persons on the grounds of height

Does the Commission have any plans or proposed measures to deal with discrimination against tall people in the
provision of goods and services?

Does  the  Commission  consider  that  tall  persons  should  be  able  to  pre-book  airline  seats  with  legroom
commensurate with their needs, subject to provision of evidence of their height to the airline?

Would the Commission agree that the policy of many airlines, to advise tall people that they should fly Business
or First Class, amounts to a financial penalty for being tall and that consideration should be given by both the EU,
the airlines and tall and short persons NGOs as to how to mitigate the financial penalties imposed on people
because of their height?

In setting its standards, does the Commission agree that the European Union should reconsider endorsement of
the CEN(cid:146)s use of historical anthropometric data, where it may not take account of current or future needs?

As the populations of Europe vary significantly in average height, does the Commission not agree that the EU
should seek to enforce ranges of appropriate standards, rather than single unsatisfactory ones?

Would the Commission consider that the CEN should be advised to seek the cooperation of groups representing
tall and short people when setting standards?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 1997)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  Written  Question  E-1118/97  by
Mr Ilaskivi (1).

The Commission has no plans to propose special measures in relation to tall people in the provision of goods and
services, just as it has no plans for measures relating to small or to overweight people.

The Commission recognises that tall people may choose to ensure adequate space by flying in business or first
class, but does not consider this any more a financial penalty than a tall person deciding to buy a large car rather
than a small one. The Commission considers this matter is best left to airlines to meet demands of the market
place as they see fit.

The Commission does not see the relevance of reference to the European committee for standardisation (CEN) in
the context of this question.

(1)  OJ C 367, 4.12.1997.