WRITTEN QUESTION E-2769/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Inclusion of inland navigation projects in the list of TEN priorities.
Date: 2000-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common transport policy, inland waterway shipping, network of navigable waterways, trans-European network, transport infrastructure, transport planning

C 330 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2000)

The Commission is convinced that inland navigation can make an important contribution to solve
mobility problems by, where appropriate, relieving freight transport from congested road and railway
lines.
It considers inland navigation to be a cost-effective, safe and environmentally sound mode of
transport, which has spare infrastructure and vessel capacity.

At Community level, inland waterways are dealt with in the framework of the trans-European transport
network (TEN-T). In this context, the Parliament and the Council adopted in 1996 Community guidelines
for the development of the TEN-T (1). These guidelines identify the trans-European inland waterway
network, as well as the main bottlenecks and missing links within the network. In order to ensure the
interconnection and completion of this network, a considerable number of projects of common interest
have been financially supported in recent years through the TEN-T budget.

However, Community support is available only for projects within the trans-European inland waterway
network, and this network consists only of the main routes within the European transport system. It is not
a (cid:145)fine(cid:146) network of waterways and does not include the minor waterways. Similarly, the Community will
only support the development of new or upgraded infrastructure, and not the maintenance of existing
infrastructure.
the Member States concerned are
responsible for the development of
their overall waterway network and for the improvement and
maintenance of their inland waterways.

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2000/C 330 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2769/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Inclusion of inland navigation projects in the list of TEN priorities

The problem of mobility is increasing all the time. Our roads are becoming clogged. As a result there is a
groundswell of opinion in favour of shifting the transport of more and more goods to the railways or
waterways.

A glance at the list of priorities for developing the trans-European networks (TENs) shows that transport
by waterways, specifically the use of inland waterways vessels, is only the third or fourth priority. This is
very strange, particularly as this form of goods transport is very environmentally compatible, relatively
cheap and particularly efficient.

However, inland navigation has a considerable number of infrastructure problems, not least the existence
of a lot of bottlenecks and the lack of connections between a number of major ports and their hinterlands.

Does the Commission agree that better (infrastructure) support for inland navigation could make a

1.
major contribution towards resolving the problem of mobility?

Is the Commission prepared to assign greater priority in developing the TENs to removing some of

2.
the bottlenecks and constructing a number of new waterways?

3.

Is the Commission prepared to consult the European Shippers Organisation?

Does the Commission have an overview of the main infrastructural problems in inland navigation? If

4.
so, can I have a copy?

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/49

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 2000)

The Commission is convinced that inland navigation can make an important contribution to solve
mobility problems, where appropriate, by relieving freight transport from congested road and railway
lines.
It considers inland navigation to be a cost-effective, safe and environmentally sound mode of
transport, which has spare infrastructure and vessel capacity.

At Community level, inland waterways are dealt with in the framework of the trans-European transport
network (TEN-T). In this context the Parliament and the Council adopted in 1996 Community guidelines
for the development of the TEN-T which include the inland waterway network at a European scale
(Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines
for the development of the trans-European transport network (1)). The guidelines identify also the main
bottlenecks and missing links in the inland waterway network. In this respect a considerable number of
projects of common interest have been financially assisted over the last years within the framework of the
TEN budget. However, it has to be borne in mind that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the
Member States concerned are responsible for the improvement and maintenance of their inland waterways.
In addition, Member States, when applying for funding from the European regional development fund
(ERDF), European investment bank (EIB) or Cohesion fund, are required to improve their transport
networks and systems by placing emphasis on connections and interconnections with the TEN-T where
these need to be completed.

The Commission is in contact on this subject with all interested parties and organisations and also the
(cid:145)European Shipping Organisation(cid:146).

In 1998 the Commission presented a report on the implementation of the TEN-T guidelines (2). More
detailed information concerning the inland waterway network is included in a complementary document
by the Commission (SEC(1998) 1993).

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.
(2) COM(98) 614 final.

(2000/C 330 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2771/99

by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 January 2000)

Subject: Apparent European ban on wood-fired ovens

Recent reports in the Italian press, subsequently officially denied by a European Commission spokesman,
have brought to light the apparent existence of a European Union directive banning the use of wood-fired
ovens for food preparation, if they fail to comply with the new European hygiene standards. All this has
raised understandable alarm in the gastronomic world in Italy, in particular in the traditional Neapolitan
pizza sector, the very symbol of Italian cuisine, which is renowned and appreciated throughout the world,
and the preparation of which requires the use of a clay oven.

Press reports also suggest that it was only thanks to a series of Commission communications that Italy
managed to secure temporary derogations from the ban although many Italian municipalities have already
begun to stop granting any further authorisations or licences to install new wood-fired ovens fearing that
sooner or later they may be banned by law definitively.

Can the Commission therefore clarify the state of affairs described above by indicating whether or not such
legislation exists, not least to safeguard the consumer(cid:146)s right to accurate information?

If so, on the basis of what health and safety considerations was the directive issued?