WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3037/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Heightism
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: Italy, anti-discriminatory measure, competence of the Member States, fundamental rights, national service, recruitment

C 117/132

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

(98/C 117/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3035/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Charging of heavy goods vehicles

With reference to the Proposal for a Council directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of
certain infrastructures (COM(96) 331 final › 96/0182 SYN) (1), whilst road tolls reflect the application of the
principle of territoriality, combining them with vehicle taxes and excise duties results in dual taxation.

Will  the  Commission  therefore  bring  about  the  abolition  of  these  tolls  in  the  long  term?  New  technology,
particularly electronic pricing, should make it possible to avoid dual taxation while at the same time improving
the flow of traffic.

(1)  OJ C 59, 26.2.1997, p. 9.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 1997)

The Commission considers the nature and objectives of fuel excise duties and vehicle taxes and of road tolls to be
different. For this reason it does not accept the assertion that their simultaneous application constitutes double
taxation.

Moreover, the Commission believes that road tolls, being directly linked to the costs caused by the vehicles when
and  where  they  are  actually  driven,  are  an  appropriate  charging  instrument  to  use  in  pursuit  of  an  efficient
transport system. The application of advanced road using technology which allows payment without vehicles
having to slow down or stop, and permits differentiation of rates that is related to underlying costs is expected to
contribute further to the improvement of the transport system as a whole.

(98/C 117/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3037/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Heightism

It is absurd that, as Europe approaches the year 2000 and after 50 years of efforts by the European Community to
eradicate discrimination on grounds of sex, race, ethnic and social origin, disability, sexual preference, religious
belief, etc., cases of discrimination on grounds of height are occurring.

In Italy, a new graduate in medicine made a standard application to perform his military service at the Scuola
degli Allievi Ufficiali di Complemento (AUC) [School of Official Reserve Cadets].

However he was rejected because, at 1m 63 cm, he was not tall enough to meet the arbitrary height requirement
of 1m 65 cm. As proof of the new recruit(cid:146)s aptitude, he was enlisted as a private soldier in the parachute corps.

Will the Commission approach the Member States to ensure that serious cases of this nature, in which the equal
rights of citizens are denied, never occur again? (The doctor in question is Dr. Andrea Pomesano of Bergamo).

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 1997)

The Commission does not have the authority to deal with the matter raised by the Honourable Member.

As Community law stands, the Member States bear sole responsibility for all matters relating to military service.