WRITTEN QUESTION E-2015/00 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Council. Need for adoption of the E-OBD requirements with regard to LPG-fuelled vehicles.
Date: 2000-06-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: drafting of EU law, free movement of goods, motor fuel, motor vehicle pollution, pollution control

C 89 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

The European Council meeting in Feira also underlined the importance of small firms for growth,
competitiveness and employment in the Union and requested its full
implementation as part of the
comprehensive framework for enterprise policy under preparation on the basis of the Commission(cid:146)s Work
Programme for Enterprise Policy 2000-2005, the proposals for benchmarking enterprise policy as well as
the Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2005. First results of these exercises
must be achieved by the end of 2000.

It must be pointed out that the European Charter for Small Enterprises is essentially horizontal and is
intended to take account of the particular requirements of small firms, whatever the sector they operate in,
in order to reinforce their innovatory capacity and their job-creation potential. With that in view, the
principles and lines of action stated in the Charter apply to all small firms, and therefore to firms in the
tourism trade.

Furthermore, within the framework of the Opinion that it will be invited to deliver on the proposal for a
Council Decision on a Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (2001-2005) (1), the
European Parliament will have an opportunity of stressing the sectoral aspects to which it attaches
particular importance.

(1) COM(2000) 256 + COR 1.

(2001/C 89 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2015/00

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Council

(22 June 2000)

Subject: Need for adoption of the E-OBD requirements with regard to LPG-fuelled vehicles

Since 1 January 2000, all vehicles marketed in Europe have to comply with the requirements of Directive
70/220 (1) as amended by Directive 98/69/EC (2) introducing in particular the need to fit vehicles with an
On Board Diagnostics (OBD) system.

Directive 98/77/EC (3), also amending Directive 70/220, installed the provisions to achieve the approval of
LPG vehicles.

The result of these two directives is that, from 1 January 2000 for new types and from 1 January 2001 for
existing types, LPG vehicles have to comply with the E-OBD requirements.

Since summer 1999 it has been unanimously recognised by the European Commission and the industry
that OBD should be applied to LPG vehicles in accordance with the time frame established for diesel
vehicles (or later), to leave the industry enough time to develop and to implement this new technology on
alternatively fuelled vehicles.

In this context, the Commission issued a proposal that was considered in the Council. To date, a decision
on this Commission proposal has been prevented by procedural problems as a result of which it is now
under discussion in the Council and the European Parliament.

1.

Can the Council explain the nature of those procedural problems?

2. What is the Council(cid:146)s view of the problems this delay causes for the LPG industry, particularly in the
light of a possible barrier to free trade in LPG vehicles in Europe?

3. What actions can and will the Council take to speed up the procedure on this issue?

(1) OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 286, 23.10.1998, p. 34.

20.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/129

Reply

(23 October 2000)

As the Honourable Member points out in her question, the Commission submitted a proposal to the
European Parliament and the Council (on 14 February 2000) in order to set the dates from which vehicles
running partly or permanently on LPG or NG must be fitted with an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system.

The Council is examining the Commission proposal.

At this stage of the codecision procedure the Council can either adopt the proposed act, if it approves all
the amendments in the European Parliament(cid:146)s Opinion or if the Parliament does not propose any
amendments, or,
in other cases, adopt a common position which is forwarded to the Parliament for
consideration (Article 251 TEC).

As to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question about a possible barrier to the free movement of LPG-fuelled
vehicles, we would point out that the proposed measures are part of the European system for vehicle type-
approval. This legislative approach is fully supported by operators on the internal market and thus
prevents any possible barriers to the free movement of LPG-fuelled vehicles.

(2001/C 89 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2018/00

by Jan-Kees Wiebenga (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Unintentional legalisation of trafficking in PMK and XTC

In the Dutch version of Annex I to Commission Directive 93/46/EEC (1) of 22 June 1993 replacing and
modifying the Annexes to Council Directive 92/109/EEC (2) on the manufacture and placing on the market
of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the
word (cid:145)3,4 Methylenedioxyphenyl propan-2-one(cid:146) is replaced with the word (cid:145)3,4 (Methylenedioxy)phenyl-
propane(cid:146). 3,4 Methylenedioxyphenyl propan-2-one and 3,4 (Methylenedioxy)phenylpropane are not one
and the same substance. 3,4 Methylenedioxyphenyl propan-2-one, also known as PMK, is the base material
for the hard drug XTC. Details are given on pages 1068-1069 of the Nederlands Juristen Blad of 26 May
2000, and in an article in De Telegraaf of 29 May 2000.

1. Why was the word (cid:145)3,4 Methylenedioxyphenyl propan-2-one(cid:146) replaced with the word (cid:145)3,4 (Methyle-
nedioxy)phenylpropane(cid:146) in Annex I to Commission Directive 93/46/EEC of 22 June 1993?

Is it true that, as a result of the abovementioned amendment, PMK is no longer included on the list

2.
of prohibited substances and hence has in fact been legalised since 22 June 1993?

If so, does this mean that production of and trafficking in PMK, and hence also XTC, has not been a

3.
punishable offence since 22 June 1993?

Could this mean that, in many cases, there will be no legal basis for prosecution, which will result in
the

4.
the termination of pre-trial detention and, possibly,
authorities?

in claims for damages being filed against

5.

Could it also mean that many of those who are serving prison sentences were wrongly convicted?

6. What action does the Commission intend to take to remedy this unintended but potentially serious
situation?

(1) OJ L 159, 1.7.1993, p. 134.
(2) OJ L 370, 19.12.1992, p. 76.