WRITTEN QUESTION E-2055/00 by Pervenche Berès (PSE) to the Commission. LPG vehicles.
Date: 2000-06-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: intra-EU trade, motor car, motor fuel

C 103 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Member States to assess concentrations of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10)
and lead in accordance with new requirements from 19 July 2001. New limit values for sulphur dioxide,
PM10 and lead are to be met by 1 January 2005 and for nitrogen dioxide by 1 January 2010. Member
States will have to develop attainment programmes for the worst areas, showing how the limit values will
be met on time.

Article 3(1) of Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on
the environment (7) states that Member States shall ensure that public authorities are required to make
available information relating to the environment to any natural or legal person on request and without
having to prove an interest. Paragraph 4 of the said Article points out that a public authority shall respond
to a person requesting information as soon as possible and at the latest within two months. The reasons
for a refusal to provide the information requested must be given. However, Article 4 of the same Directive
indicates that a person who considers that a request for information has been unreasonably refused or
ignored, or has been inadequately answered by a public authority, may seek a judicial or administrative
review of the decision in accordance with the relevant national legal system. In these circumstances and in
the light of the information available to it, the Commission does not see that Directive 90/313/EC has
been breached in the case concerned.

The summary information supplied by the Honourable Member does not enable the Commission to
presume that the abovementioned Community Directives have been breached. However, the Commission
does not rule out the possibility of investigating the question raised by the Honourable Member in more
detail if he is able to provide information with evidence of a breach of the Community law applicable.

(1) OJ L 188, 16.7.1984.
(2) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.
(3) OJ L 378, 31.12.1982.
(4) OJ L 87, 27.3.1985.
(5) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.
(6) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999.
(7) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.

(2001/C 103 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2055/00

by Pervenche BerŁs (PSE) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: LPG vehicles

Given that differences in national regulations governing motor vehicles fitted with LPG systems and the
lack of mutual recognition arrangements continue to hamper freedom of movement within the Union,
does the Commission intend to submit a proposal for a directive seeking to facilitate the free movement of
such vehicles and their type-approval by each Member State, while ensuring that high safety standards are
maintained?

Answer by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

On 28 January 1999 the Commission presented a proposal for a Council Decision on the accession by the
European Community to United Nations Economic Commmission for Europe Regulation No 67 on the
approval of special equipment for motor vehicles fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (1).

The Council(cid:146)s adoption of
following Parliament(cid:146)s opinion, will make it possible to
incorporate Regulation No 67 in the vehicle type-approval system and thus to supplement applicable
legislation in the Community. The Regulation will be published in the Official Journal before its entry into
force.

this decision,

Regulation No 67, as amended, aims in particular to eliminate technical barriers to trade in motor vehicles
while ensuring high standards of safety and environmental protection.

(1) COM(1999) 14 final.