WRITTEN QUESTION P-1803/00 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Ferry services in remote areas.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Scotland, common transport policy, ferryboat

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/121

As regards the alleged presence of state aid and its compatibility with the common market,
Commission can not prejudge its position, as it is not aware of the nature of the reported scheme.

the

The Commission will write to the Danish authorities for more information.

(2001/C 72 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1802/00

by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Ozgur case

territory under Turkish occupation, on the charge of

The Turkish Cypriot politician Ozker Ozgur is to be committed to trial on 26 May by the authorities of
In fact,
the Cypriot
proceedings are being taken against Mr Ozgur, together with the editor and staff of the newspaper
Avrupa, because in his articles he has repeatedly opposed the expulsion of citizens from their houses so
that these may be used by Turkish soldiers. Mr Ozgur states that he refuses to be tried by an (cid:145)occupation(cid:146)
court. This case forms one of a series of indirect interventions by the Turkish military establishment,
designed to maintain Mr Denktash as leader of the Turkish Cypriot people. As well as the wider issue of
the functioning of democracy, Mr Ozgur(cid:146)s case undoubtedly constitutes a flagrant violation of individual
rights and, of course, freedom of expression.

to rebellion(cid:146).

(cid:145)incitement

Does the Commission intend to examine the question of the continued violation of individual and human
rights in the sector of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops, and how does it intend to intervene in order to
ensure a fair trial?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

The Commission is well aware of the recent committal to trial of the Turkish Cypriot politician Ozker
Ozgur raised by the Honourable Member and will be following developments closely. The same is the case
for the editor and staff of the newspaper Avrupa. Each year the Commission produces a regular report on
each candidate country reviewing progress in the light of the Copenhagen criteria, including human rights.
In the case of Cyprus there is a special section dealing with the situation in the northern part of the
island (1). It is likely that the cases mentioned by the Honourable Member will be dealt with in this year(cid:146)s
report due to be published in autumn 2000.

(1) COM(1999) 502 final, 13.10.99, page 11.

(2001/C 72 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1803/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Ferry services in remote areas

I am grateful to the Commission for its helpful and courteous answer to my Written Question E-0999/00
about island ferry services. Further to that, I now pose the following questions:

1.

Is the Commission aware of the geographical configuration of the west coast of Scotland, where long
sea lochs ((cid:145)fjords(cid:146)) create isolated peninsulas to which vehicular access is only possible over long and
twisting roads and mountain passes?

C 72 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

2. Does it agree that it is environmentally undesirable to force goods and passenger traffic to use such

roads where much shorter sea crossings by ferry might be provided?

3. Does it agree that there are also serious safety, health, and public welfare grounds for the provision of

affordable ferry services, both passenger and vehicular, on such sea crossings?

4. Does it therefore agree that it would be proper and reasonable to treat peninsulas such as Kintyre,
Cowal and Roseneath as equivalent to islands for the purposes of applying Article 4(1) of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 on Maritime Transport?

5. Does it agree that it would be lawful for the Scottish Executive, the responsible authority in the UK, to
in respect of ferry services to these and other similar

invite tenders for (cid:145)public service contracts(cid:146)
peninsulas?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the geographical configuration of the West coast of Scotland.

As explained in its communication on the development of short sea shipping in Europe (1) the Commission
also takes the view that maritime transport should be developped as it constitutes an environmentally
friendly and safe alternative to road transport. However, short sea shipping cannot be developed in breach
of Community law.

As far as maritime services within Member States are concerned, the relevant text is Council Regulation
(EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime
transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (2). Member States adopted this Regulation because
they shared the view that the abolition of restrictions on the provision of maritime transport services
within Member States was necessary for the establishment of the internal market.

The imposition of public service obligations restricts the freedom to provide services. Therefore, it was
decided that Member States could only impose public service obligations in order to ensure the adequacy
of regular transport services to, from and between islands and not between ports located on the mainland
(see Article 4 paragraph 1 of the Regulation). This provision has to be interpreted strictly as it is an
exception to the general principle of freedom to provide services. For this reason, the Commission will
only accept that when Member States have demonstrated that there is a real need for public service
obligations, they may impose public service obligations on a maritime route to, from and between islands
where there is no land alternative.

(1) COM(1999) 317 final.
(2) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992.

(2001/C 72 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1812/00

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Studies of the radiological effects on Ireland of the operation of Sellafield

Will the Commission ask the relevant British, Northern Ireland and Irish safety authorities for copies of all
studies undertaken since 1980 on the radiological effects on Ireland of the operation of Sellafield, and will
it establish a review panel to assess the reliability and current relevance of these reports?