WRITTEN QUESTION E-1481/00 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Checks at the Suben motorway frontier crossing point.
Date: 2000-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, Germany, frontier, motorway, road traffic, traffic control

C 81 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

this principle which, by any reckoning, is essential to the balanced functioning of the institutions? Is it
normal that,
in certain Directorates-General, both the Director-General and some of the heads of the
division should be of the same nationality?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

There is no evidence to substantiate the Honourable Member(cid:146)s assertion that (cid:145)In connection with the
internal reform of the Commission a number of senior appointments are being made in apparent disregard
for the principle of geographical balance(cid:146). On the contrary, on 18th September and 8th December 1999
the Commission adopted rules and procedures governing senior appointments which it is following
scrupulously.

Appointments are made according to basic principles of merit which means that thorough and objective
assessment is made of the aptitudes of a qualified applicant for a specific post, with proper account being
the need to sustain the (cid:145)geographical balance(cid:146) which is an essential consideration in this
taken of
multinational Institution.

For details of appointments to senior posts during the time that this Commission has been in office the
Honourable Member is referred to the reply which Vice President Kinnock made to Oral Question O-52/
00 from Snr PomØs-Ruiz in the Plenary of 3 May 2000 and to the full list of A1 and A2 appointments
provided to Parliament at that time. The factual details demonstrate that the principle of geographical
balance has been, and is being, respected in practice and not disregarded.

(2001/C 81 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1481/00

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Checks at the Suben motorway frontier crossing point

Queues of heavy goods vehicles wishing to enter Germany have recently been forming mainly when the
Austrian gendarmerie and the Bavarian police carry out joint checks. These checks are usually made at the
entrance to the customs office parking area.

The formal operation is undertaken by the Austrian gendarmerie, but it takes account of shortcomings
referred to it by the Bavarian police. As the checks are made at the place referred to above, a line of HGVs
immediately forms on the motorway when several of them in a row are flagged down and have to queue
up to be checked.

Is the Commission aware that artificial tailbacks of this kind occur only at this frontier crossing point?

What does the Commission intend to do in this context to gain full acceptance for the idea of the internal
market? These stoppages at the frontier do, after all, cost hauliers money as well as causing them
considerable losses of time.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2000)

The Commission is aware that controls, such as those to which the Honourable Member refers, are being
carried out in cooperation between German and Austrian police forces. According to information supplied
by both administrations, such checks take place to ensure compliance with the traffic regulations and other

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/45

provisions. They are carried out spontaneously and at varying places (border as well as anywhere inside
national
territory) and are thus in full compliance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 4060/89 of
21 December 1989 on the elimination of controls performed at the frontiers of Member States in the
field of road and inland waterway transport (1).

If checks occur on the border itself, it is with the intention of causing the least disturbance to commercial
and other traffic because of the spacious parking and other installations available at the former border
posts. Despite these precautions, the controls may in exceptional cases lead to queues. Localised problems
with tailbacks should be seen in the context that roadside controls ensure much greater respect of the
appropriate technical standards for lorries and social legislation for drivers. This has positive effects both
on road safety and the elimination of disreputable operators.

(1) OJ L 390, 30.12.1989.

(2001/C 81 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1490/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Restricting the possibilities of members of the Committee of the Regions declaring expenses twice

Can the Commission confirm that the expenses incurred by members of the Committee of the
1.
Regions in 1998 and 1999 may only be paid directly to those concerned and not to the authorities they
represent?

2.
Is it true that those entitled to such expenses could only obtain the amounts involved for 1998 and
1999 by means of a cheque drawn on a Belgian bank, so that, if requested, they were unable to provide
evidence of the payment in respect of their declarations being entered in their personal bank accounts in
their own country?

Can the Commission confirm that payments for the years up to and including 1997 and from 2000

3.
are indeed made to the regional authorities involved and not to individuals?

4. Why have the payment arrangements been changed twice as described above?

Does the Commission agree with me that in 1998 and 1999 those concerned had no reason
5.
whatsoever also to declare their Committee of the Regions expenses to the authorities to which they
belong, since this would lead to payment being made twice?

Are the authorities from which the members of the Committee of the Regions come also notified

6.
directly of direct payments to members and of the amounts involved?

7. When the payment system is changed, are the members of the Committee of the Regions concerned
and the authorities to which they belong always informed of the change in good time so as to prevent any
possible misunderstandings or even deliberate dual declarations?

8.

If the answer to question 7 is yes, how has the relevant information been provided?