WRITTEN QUESTION P-0117/00 by Mathieu Grosch (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ban on night flights at Zaventem airport in Belgium.
Date: 2000-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, air transport, airline, carrier, degree of pollution, night work, noise pollution, transport regulations

C 330 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

consolidation in the municipality of Covelo, which has not been subject to any kind of environmental
assessment. The regional government of Galicia, which is responsible for the works, itself proposed the
river Tea for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. Given that the consolidation works are being financed
from the EAGGF, will the Commission carry out an investigation into those responsible for the ecological
damage caused?

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

(7 March 2000)

The site (cid:145)R(cid:237)o Tea(cid:146), of 88 hectares, has been proposed by Spain as a site of Community importance (SIC) to
the NATURA 2000 network, under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

In response to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question and a petition to the committee of petitions of
the Parliament (2), the Commission is conducting an investigation in order to assess whether the relevant
Community environmental
legislation has been complied with in this case. As further information is
required, the Commission has sent a letter requesting the observations of the Spanish authorities on this
issue.

The Commission will not hesitate to take all the necessary steps, including recourse to the procedure set
out in Article 226 (ex article 169) of the EC Treaty, to ensure full compliance with this legislation.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) 365/99.

(2000/C 330 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0117/00

by Mathieu Grosch (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Ban on night flights at Zaventem airport in Belgium

On 31 December 1999 the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport submitted a draft
ministerial decree, which was withdrawn on 12 January 2000 for wider consultations. The purpose of the
draft decree was to set noise quotas by introducing a system of maximum noise levels. However, it also
stipulated that, starting in the summer of 2003, commercial flights would be banned between 1 a.m. and
5 a.m.

The draft decree is based inter alia on Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992
on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes (1), which states that (cid:145)where serious
congestion and/or environmental problems exist the Member State responsible may ((cid:133)) impose conditions
on, limit or refuse the exercise of traffic rights(cid:146).

1. What action has the Belgian Transport Minister taken to comply with the requirement laid down in
Article 9(3) of the above Regulation that (cid:145)at least three months before the entry into force of the action(cid:146), he
(cid:145)inform the other Member States and the Commission(cid:146)?

Given the lack of European legislation governing the prohibition of night flights, does the ban on
2.
such flights at Zaventem airport only provided for in the draft decree not constitute a distortion of
competition between Belgian and other European air carriers within the meaning of Article 9(2), fourth
indent?

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

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Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

The Commission has taken note that the draft ministerial decree introducing a ban on nightflights at
Zaventem airport has never been published in the (cid:145)Moniteur Belge(cid:146) and has been withdrawn on 12 January
2000, as indicated by the Honourable Member. Since the Belgian legislation banning nightflights at
Zaventem has been withdrawn before its entry into force, the question is no more of practical application.

The Commission understands that the Belgian authorities are now preparing in replacement of the
abovementioned ministerial decree a comprehensive set of rules addressing the noise problems at night
around Zaventem.

Finally, the Commission intends to address the issue of operational restrictions at airports through a
Community framework for operational restrictions and dissemination of best practices, as set out in its
recent Communication on Air Transport and Environment (1).

(1) COM(1999) 640 final.

(2000/C 330 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0123/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 January 2000)

Subject: Computer recycling

Because of the pace at which technology is advancing, many developed countries, companies, universities
and even ordinary citizens replace their PCs frequently because they are no longer of any use for their new
specialised requirements, while at the same time there is a new generation of (cid:145)electronic illiterates(cid:146) growing
up who could put them to good use. At the recent Medi@terra Mediterranean and Balkan symposium at
Athens, held under the patronage of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Culture, a proposal was put
forward to set up a scheme for recycling old computers, which would aim to channel them, after
collection, valuation and any necessary modifications, to countries in need of computers, together with
the provision of the necessary training and technical support.

Since, in the context of the Information Society, the European Union(cid:146)s interest in the dissemination of
information and technology to as many sections of the public as possible can be taken as read, can the
Commission say:

1. whether it agrees with the above suggestion,

2.

from which EU programmes an endeavour such as this could be funded, and

3. what legal problems would be likely to arise in connection with the donation of computers and,

particularly, software?

4. Could the Commission provide information on whether similar activities exist in other Member States?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 2000)

1. and 2.
The Commission agrees that re-cycling old computers is in general economically and
environmentally appropriate. It is in favour of improving information technology in developing countries,
and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have the possibility under cofinanced projects to include a
computer recycling element.