WRITTEN QUESTION No. 414/99 by Vincenzo VIOLA Scheduled air services between island regions and the mainland
Date: 1999-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, VIOLA
Subjects: Italy, Sicily, air transport, airline, competence of the Member States, economic development, island region, public service

29.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 341/109

(1999/C 341/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0414/99

by Vincenzo Viola (PPE) to the Commission

(19 February 1999)

Subject: Scheduled air services between island regions and the mainland

Articles 154 and 158 of the Amsterdam Treaty refer to the island regions of the European Union and to the
need for them to be linked to the central regions of the Community on account of (inter alia) their status as
less-favoured regions, a status derived from geographical structural disadvantages, the persistence of which
hinders their social and economic development.

What initiatives does the Commission intend to introduce in order to counter the detrimental effects which the
opening of Malpensa 2000 has had on flights to and from Sardinia? Is the Commission monitoring the
implementation of Regulation (EEC) 2408/92 (1) on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air
routes, which should ensure the provision of continuous, regular, reasonably priced services with adequate
capacity 1 criteria which flights between, for example, the smaller Sicilian islands (Pantelleria and Lampedusa)
and the Italian mainland or Sicily itself currently fail to meet?

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 8.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 1999)

As mentioned by the Honourable Member in his question, Council Regulation (EEC) 2408/92 of 23 July 1992
on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes makes provision for Member States
governments to declare public service obligations. The legal power to decide whether to impose public service
obligations on certain routes to regional airports, because such routes are considered to be vital for the
economic development of the region does not, therefore reside with the Commission. The conditions must be
necessary to ensure the adequate provision of air services on such routes according to certain standards which
airlines would not assume if they were solely considering their commercial interest.

The Commission is aware that the Italian authorities are considering possible means of facilitating air transport
services to peripheral regions, including the smaller islands of Sicily. The options available under Community
law are the impositions by the Italian authorities of public service obligations on the routes concerned, as
mentioned above, or the adoption of a non-discriminatory form of social aid for the benefit of the residents of
such islands. It is for the Italian authorities to decide which air transport services should be covered by these
arrangements. As regards the services to Milan, it would be difficult to introduce specific measures in relation
to one airport if there is adequate service to other airports serving that city.

(1999/C 341/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0421/99

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Gap in legislation on the risks related to exposure to asbestos for workers in the sea transport sector

Article 1(2) of Directive 83/477/EEC (1) on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to
asbestos at work, which is a follow-up to Directive 80/1107/EEC (2) on aspects related to safety at work,
explicitly excludes workers in the sea transport and air transport sectors from the directive’s scope, although
Member States still have the right to apply or introduce laws, regulations or administrative provisions ensuring
greater protection of workers.

Although the Italian Government has adopted the Community Directive, it has not provided for regulation of
the situation concerning workers excluded from the above-mentioned legislation, thus leaving a gap in
legislation in this field, and depriving the sectors in question of the necessary protection.