WRITTEN QUESTION No. 184/98 by Jonas SJÖSTEDT to the Commission. Carriage of lorries and trailers by rail
Date: 1998-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, SJOESTEDT
Subjects: EU aid, combined transport, common transport policy, environmental protection, financial aid, international transport, rail transport, research and development, road transport, technological change

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/35

The Commission is not aware that the application of the above mentioned provision has led to difficulties in
Belgium. However, the Commission is ready to study this case and to contact the authorities in Belgium. The
Commission would, therefore, welcome further information from the Honourable Member on this matter.

(1)  OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(2)  OJ L 335, 24.12.1996.

(98/C 310/41)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0184/98

by Jonas Sjo¤stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Carriage of lorries and trailers by rail

There is great scope for saving money and reducing emissions by carrying entire goods vehicles by rail over long
distances. Systems have now been developed for carrying lorries, trailers and their loads on special rail trucks.
Does the EU give any kind of aid for this type of project? Does the EU have any plans for supporting technical
developments in this field?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 1998)

The  Community  pursues  an  active  policy  of  increasing  the  competitiveness  and  efficiency  of  combined
transport. As part of this policy the Commission has been supporting Pilot Actions for Combined Transport since
1992.  The  PACT  programme  provides  a  limited  financial  grant  from  the  Community  for  innovations,  which
improve  the  competitiveness  of  international  combined  transport.  Furthermore,  the  Community  provides
funding for intermodal research and development activities in the fourth framework programme (Parliament and
Council Decision No 1110/94/EC (1)).

In general, the Commission notes that accompanied combined transport (rolling road), as currently practised, is
often  considered  not  to  be  economically  viable  on  its  own.  It  is  conducted  for  environmental  reasons  or  for
reducing congestion on certain axes, especially through mountainous regions. Detailed consideration of this and
other features of intermodal transport was given in the 1997 White Paper (cid:145)Intermodality and Intermodal Freight
transport in the European Union(cid:146) (2).

For the time being, rolling road technology or operations are not funded financially by the Community within the
above-mentioned programmes. However, the Commission would welcome relevant technological and econom-
ical development in this area in order to help to make the rolling road an economically viable option. If projects
aiming at this objective fulfil the criteria of the programmes such as PACT or the specific tasks in the intermodal
R&D programmes, they could be eligible for Community funding.

(1)  OJ L 126, 18.5.1994.
(2)  COM(97) 243 final.

(98/C 310/42)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0188/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(5 February 1998)

Subject: Taxi licences

The principle of free competition embodied by the large-scale single market threatens to penalize a whole range
of professional activities whose specific characteristics are not being safeguarded. One example is taxi drivers,
especially in countries which, like Luxembourg, do not have big cities.