WRITTEN QUESTION E-2049/00 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Ban on the use of mobile phones during flights.
Date: 2000-06-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aircraft, common transport policy, mobile phone

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/139

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

(28 July 2000)

The Gulf of Amvrakikos (a site of Community significance proposed in accordance with Council Directive
92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1), and a
special protection area classified in accordance with Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the
conservation of wild birds (2) is covered by a LIFE-Nature project, the aim of which is to conserve and
manage its wetlands. Against this backdrop the Commission was informed by the recipient of the project
(the Amvrakikos Development Company (cid:129) Etanam) of the incident described by the Honourable Member,
and of the potential
impact on the area referred to above, which includes the mouth of the River
Arachthos.

According to that information the refuse carried away by the water (and above all the remains of plastic
bags, but also glass and metals) came from an old unauthorised tip on the banks of the river, which had
been abandoned 15 years ago. The expert assessments carried out following the incident, under the
responsibility of the Etanam,
including measures of physical-chemical parameters (dilute oxygen, pH,
temperature) and microbiological analyses of the water upstream of the collapsed dam and in the Gulf,
show that the refuse had already decomposed and thus was free of any organic loading; therefore there
was no risk of eutrophication of the water, which has also been considered suitable for bathing.

The tipping of refuse has now ceased and the damage caused to the Imaret dam has been repaired.
The banks of the river and Gulf have been cleaned, using the allocations granted by the region of Epirus.
An operation to clean up the bed of the river and Gulf in order to remove the refuse (snagged remains of
plastic) has been examined by the Etanam in view of the technical difficulties to be overcome. Moreover
the Etanam has taken action, together with the local municipalities, in order to set up machinery for
avoiding incidences of Gulf pollution in the future.

The avoidance and stopping of illegal activities devolves upon the national authorities. However, as part of
the abovementioned LIFE project, the Commission will ensure that the clean up operations are completed
and that the ecosystem in the Gulf of Amvrakikos is protected effectively.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2001/C 89 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2049/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: Ban on the use of mobile phones during flights

According to an article in the British magazine (cid:145)Flight(cid:146), the British Civil Aviation administration has carried
out a detailed and exhaustive study of the consequences of the use of mobile phones on board aircraft. The
findings of this study are that mobile phones definitely have adverse consequences for the operation of the
electronic instruments and cause various kinds of interference (both when passengers make and receive
calls) and that for safety reasons measures should be taken to impose a complete ban on mobiles both
during flights and when aircraft are on the ground.

Does the Commission intend to promote an initiative of this kind as a matter of urgency in order to
ensure the greatest possible safety of flights from this point of view? Will it also say whether it might be
useful to organise and coordinate a public opinion campaign to make the travelling public aware of this
issue?

C 89 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the problem raised by the Honourable Member. The same applies to the
entire aviation community. Moreover, it recently sent a proposal for a Parliament and Council Regula-
tion (1) which is intended to amend Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the
harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (2)
which is intended to lay down common requirements concerning the commercial operation of aircraft
which, inter alia, contains provisions banning the use of portable electronic equipment that is likely to
affect the proper functioning of aircraft equipment and systems (cf. SPG 1.110 in the annex to this
proposal for a regulation).

(1) COM(2000) 121 final.
(2) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.

(2001/C 89 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2057/00

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: Bosnia and Herzegovina

As no integrated Bosnian market exists between the (cid:145)Republika Srpska(cid:146) (the Bosnian Serb (cid:145)entity(cid:146)) and the
Muslim-Croat Federation, which has limited the prospects of sustainable economic development, does the
EU intend to encourage the establishment of an integrated economic area?

In view of the elections last April in which moderates in Bosnia and Herzegovina were successful, does the
EU intend to promote actions for the benefit of communes led by moderate mayors by establishing
partnership arrangements?

As the joint institutions envisaged in the Dayton negotiations are not functioning effectively, does the EU
intend to increase the technical assistance provided to those institutions with a view to facilitating
coordination between state authorities and the (cid:145)entities(cid:146) and between the centre and the periphery?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2000)

The Commission is concerned that the absence of an integrated market will limit sustainable economic
development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Community-Bosnia and Herzegovina Consultative Task
Force, the Commission has encouraged both entities and the central government to establish conditions in
which an integrated domestic market can develop. Thus, the (cid:145)road map(cid:146) of steps to be taken by Bosnia and
Herzegovina before beginning negotiations on a stabilisation and association agreement includes actions
designed to promote the development of an integrated economic space. Moreover, Community financial
assistance supports this objective. Assistance has been provided to develop a unified legislative framework
in the field of insurance, competition and arbitration. Community technical support will be provided for
the establishment of a state-level competition council and office for competition and consumer protection
as well as an arbitration centre. The European Community customs and fiscal administration office
(CAFAO) has made a significant contribution to the creation of a single economic space. The CAFAO
programme has assisted the state Ministry of
foreign trade and economic relations in drafting and
developing customs and tariff laws which, for the first time, established a single customs territory in
Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The programme of assistance for this year includes a component specifically supporting municipal
development. The objective of the programme is to work with a number of pilot municipalities and
associations of municipalities in order to strengthen their management capacity and to forge links between