WRITTEN QUESTION P-2195/99 by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission. Transport between airport terminals.
Date: 1999-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, air transport, airport, competition, low cost airline

C 219 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Has the Commission and its own experts in this field taken in the latest research findings pursuant to
which trichloroethylene should be classified as carcinogenic?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(4 January 2000)

Since 1976 trichloroethylene has a Community wide (cid:145)harmonised(cid:146) classification as a dangerous substance
in Annex I of Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations
and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous sub-
stances (1). Since 1988 trichloroethylene falls into category 3 of the carcinogenic substances (possible
carcinogenic effects on man). Furthermore it is classified as dangerous to the environment since 1996.

Concerning the ban on trichloroethylene in Sweden, it is important to note that there are a number of
exemptions for industry from this ban.

the Commission have been intensively discussing
The regular expert meetings held on behalf of
trichloroethylene since 1996 to review its classification and labelling. In doing so they consider latest
research results. This includes dicussions at national level such as the meeting of experts on 2 December
1999 in Frankfurt am Main, where a number of epidemiological studies causing concern were critically
evaluated.

The frequent discussions on trichloroethylene and the careful evaluation of existing data show that it is
inappropriate to claim that
the Commission has traditionally taken a lenient attitude towards this
substance.

(1) OJ 196, 16.8.1967.

(2000/C 219 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2195/99

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Transport between airport terminals

The issue of transport between airport terminals which arose recently in connection with the planned
transfer of flights from Linate to Malpensa also arises for passengers who fly into Athens on an airline
other than Olympic Airways and are obliged to continue their journey on that carrier, which serves most
domestic destinations.

Arrangements for transport between terminals at Athens airport are left entirely up to the passengers
themselves who are obliged to bear the cost of a journey that takes them outside the airport boundaries
(unlike at Malpensa, where the transfer is made inside the airport itself by means of a complimentary
shuttle service). This situation may prompt passengers flying into Greece to opt for Olympic Airways
rather than another carrier, so as save time and trouble, and therefore places Olympic Airways in a
privileged position.

Is this situation in keeping with EU law?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1999)

According to the information we have at the Commission there is a paying shuttle service at Athens-
Hellenikon airport between the East terminal, where all carriers not belonging to the Olympic Airways
group fly from, and the West terminal, used by Olympic Airways.

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/117

However, the Commission takes the view that the low cost of this shuttle (DRA 250/€ 0,75 from 5 a.m. to
midnight and DRA 500/€ 1,25 from midnight to 5 a.m.) and the journey time (10 minutes) are unlikely to
prompt passengers travelling to a Greek island or a provincial town in Greece served by Olympic Airways
to opt for an international flight with this carrier rather than another.

In any event, the Commission notes that following the liberalisation of access to intracommunity domestic
links (1 April 1997) and the liberalisation of access to links with the Greek islands (1 April 1998) Olympic
Airways is faced with certain competition on the domestic market from newly established Greek carriers
(e.g. Cronus Airlines, Air Greece). These carriers all fly from the East terminal, so passengers using the
international services of carriers operating from this terminal can take connecting flights without having to
change terminal.

(2000/C 219 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(30 November 1999)

Subject: Combating world hunger

The first report recently published by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a bleak
picture of the world situation since the target set in 1996 to halve the numbers suffering from hunger by
the year 2015 does not seem to be materialising. 204 million people in India, 164 million in China, half
the population of North Korea and Mongolia, 1/3 of the peoples of Cambodia, Laos and sub-Saharan
Africa are suffering from hunger, while two in every five children are undernourished. Bearing in mind
that the UN had decided that the developed countries should spend 0,7 % of their GDP on humanitarian
aid to the developing countries, will the Council say whether that decision is being implemented and by
which Member States of the European Union?

Reply

(31 January 2000)

The final declaration of the World Food Summit held in Rome in November 1996 fixed the long-term
objective of eliminating hunger in all countries and in particular halving the numbers suffering from
hunger by the year 2015.

Meeting this target would constitute a tremendous advance for humanity. For its part, the Council has
given high priority, in the framework of the measures to reduce poverty, to activities aimed at increasing
food security. In this context, the Council intends to study closely the results of the evaluation shortly to
begin of the working of the June 1996 Regulation on food aid and food security. It hopes to be able to
draw conclusions which will lead to an increase in the quality and efficiency of operations to ensure food
security in developing countries.

The Council has no precise information on the progress made by Member States towards achieving the
target of providing 0,7 % of their GDP as development assistance.

(2000/C 219 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/99

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Extreme poverty and social exclusion

(29 November 1999)

Article 137 of the Treaty of Amsterdam establishes a new legal basis for the adoption of measures to
combat social exclusion. Unfortunately, hard statistics on the scale of this social reality, which might make
it possible to reach all those affected by social exclusion and/or extreme poverty more effectively, are not
available.