WRITTEN QUESTION P-2566/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Extending the deadline for discontinuing the use of super leaded petrol.
Date: 1999-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: broadcasting, information technology, new technology, restriction on competition, telecommunications

C 225 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

(2000/C 225 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2566/99

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Extending the deadline for discontinuing the use of super leaded petrol

What is the Commission(cid:146)s position on allowing extensions to the 1 January 2000 deadline for discontinu-
ing the use of super leaded petrol for some countries facing considerable difficulties, such as Greece where
an estimated two million vehicles or more will be directly affected unless an extension is granted?

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

(21 January 2000)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it has granted Greece a derogation to
continue to permit the marketing of leaded petrol within its territory until 31 December 2001.

(2000/C 225 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2567/99

by LORD Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

Does the Commission support the introduction of DAB across the Community and what steps is it taking
actively to promote it?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2000)

The Commission welcomes the development of digital radio services on appropriate platforms in view of
the important role that radio plays in the Community in social, cultural and economic terms and taking
into account the current and potential advantages of digital transmissions. The Commission is therefore
following digital radio developments very closely, including DAB (1), and has regular contacts with the
parties involved in this process.

However the Commission considers that regulatory intervention in the area of electronic communications
should comply with a number of principles, and in particular the principle of technological neutrality (see:
(cid:145)Towards a new framework for electronic communications infrastructure and associated services (cid:129) The
1999 communications review (2)(cid:146)). Technological neutrality is particularly important because any kind of
service can increasingly be delivered by any network or platform as technologies converge. Radio services
are also being delivered via digital television platforms and the Internet; and new technologies such as
Universal mobile telecommunications systems (UMTS) are being considered. Promoting any particular
technology therefore carries a high risk of market distortion.

Consequently, the Commission is not actively promoting the introduction of any particular digital radio
system across the Community.

(1)

i.e the system developed by Project No 147 of the Eureka Programme. The main elements of this system have been
standardised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
through norms EN 300 797;
EN 300 798 and EN 300 799 notably.

(2) COM(1999) 539 final.