WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3138/97 by Florus WIJSENBEEK to the Commission. Ban on night flights in Italy
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: European Parliament, WIJSENBEEK
Subjects: Italy, air traffic, air transport, application of EU law, application of the law, market access, night work, noise pollution, postal service, restriction on competition

C 134/94

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

(98/C 134/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/97

by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Ban on night flights in Italy

Is the Commission aware that the Italian Transport and Environment Ministries have drafted a regulation which,
if  adopted,  would  ban  all  flights  to  and  from  all  civil  airports,  with  the  exception  of  the  areas  round  the
intercontinental airports of Rome Fiumicino and Malpensa, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.?

Is the Commission also aware that this regulation comprises an exemption for all flights for (cid:145)postal services(cid:146) and
that it is thought that this exemption will be interpreted in a narrow sense to ensure that only Alitalia flights for
the (cid:145)Ente Poste Italiane(cid:146) can make use of it?

Is the Commission aware that it is essential for courier services to be able to fly at night, and that the planned ban
may therefore have serious implications for their survival?

Does the Commission also realise that some of the services offered by the (cid:145)Ente Poste Italiane(cid:146) compete with
services provided by individual couriers, and that the exemption in favour of the (cid:145)Ente Poste Italiane(cid:146) will give
the Italian Postal Service a competitive advantage which conflicts with the EU legislation on this subject?

Does the Commission intend to put pressure on the Italian Government to guarantee that the general exemption
applies at any event to night flights for all postal services?

If so, how?

If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 1997)

The Commission has not been formally informed by the Italian authorities about the envisaged ban on night
flights at all Italian civil airports except Roma Fiumicino and Milano-Malpensa.

Subject to the provisions and procedures of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 on access for Community air
carriers to intra-Community air routes (1), Member States can take certain restrictive operational measures with a
view to limiting noise around aiports. Such restrictive measures could include the introduction of a ban on night
flights. However, they must comply with the general principle of non-discrimination and the Commission, acting
further to a complaint or on its own initiative, will ensure compliance with that principle.

(1)  OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.

(98/C 134/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3143/97

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission

(30 September 1997)

Subject: The Commission(cid:146)s monitoring system for checks on nuclear fissile materials

At present the Commission is developing a new computer based monitoring system to check fissile materials
movements (safeguards). The computer technology previously used for this purpose is to be replaced by a new
technical installation at Euratom.

1. What  are  the  exact  reasons  which  led  the  Commission  to  exchange  the  previously  used  computer
technology for a new system?

2. When  did  the  Commission  start  developing  the  new  monitoring  programme,  what  are  the  exact  costs
involved for this development process and for the induction and training of staff to use this system?