WRITTEN QUESTION E-2088/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Persons with disabilities and air travel.
Date: 2000-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, civil aviation, discrimination based on disability

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/59

The Commission has provided guidelines for the presentation and assessment of applications under the
novel food Regulation (Commission Recommendation 618/97/EC concerning the scientific aspects and
presentation of information necessary to support applications for the placing on the market of novel foods
and novel food ingredients and the preparation of initial assessment reports under Regulation (EC) No 258/
97 of the Parliament and of the Council) (2).

The assessment of novel foods and novel food ingredients has to be done on a case-by-case basis. The
initial assessment is carried out by a Member State(cid:146)s food assessment body. The Commission and the other
Member States have 60 days to comment on, or to raise objections to, this initial assessment report. In
case of objections, the Commission consults the scientific committee for food (SCF). All opinions of the
SCF are published on the internet. The Commission intends to ensure that, in the future, assessments to
which no objections have been raised, and thus no SCF opinion has been sought, will also be made
available on the internet.

The Commission(cid:146)s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is currently conducting a study, (3) which aims at collecting
and analysing information about the consumption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products
derived from GMOs in the short and long term perspective. This report is due to be finished in early 2001
and its results may provide additional information of reference to the matter.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.
(2) OJ L 253, 16.9.1997.
(3)

(cid:145)Impact of GMOs on Human Health and the Environment: Mapping of risks(cid:146) coordinated by IPTS-Seville.

(2001/C 103 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2088/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Persons with disabilities and air travel

(28 June 2000)

Under Article 13 of the EC Treaty, action against discrimination may take on a Community-wide
dimension. The integrated package of anti-discrimination measures adopted by the Commission on
25 November 1999 does not include any concrete measures to counter the discrimination suffered by
persons with disabilities when travelling by air. The same may be said of the proposal for a Council
decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006) COM/99/
0567. The Commission communication entitled (cid:145)Towards a Barrier Free Europe for People with Disabil-
ities(cid:146) (COM 2000/284) deals with this problem only in a vague fashion: it admits the present absence of
adapted services and facilities at airports, as well as the problem of frequent refusals to allow persons with
disabilities to board. The Commission undertakes to (cid:145)consider the action needed as part of the policy it
intends to develop on air passenger rights, including promoting good practice(cid:146).

What concrete measures does the Commission intend to take in this connection? Does it not believe that
an enormous legal vacuum exists at Community level on this issue? What Community-funded projects are
currently being planned or organised in Europe in the air transport sector in order to improve access?
Finally, can the Commission provide information on the projects concerning air transport that have been
carried out within the Fifth Framework Programme for Research under the action line for research relating
to persons with disabilities?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

As stated in the communication entitled (cid:145)Towards a barrier-free Europe for people with disabilities(cid:146) referred
to by the Honourable Member, the Commission adopted a communication on the protection of air
passengers on 21 June 2000 (1) in which, while again pointing out that air transport is somewhat ahead of

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3.4.2001

the other transport modes as regards the treatment of the disabled, it acknowledges that progress can still
be made in this area.

It is thus contemplating proposals for laws in such a way as to guarantee certain rights to that category of
air passenger, such as: free assistance in getting from the aircraft to the airport; particular attention to cases
where passengers are not allowed to board, delayed or cancelled flights; reimbursing all of the costs arising
from the loss of or damage to wheelchairs, it thus suggests that the authorities responsible for air safety
should give some thought to defining the objective rules on the matter of freedom to board in order fully
to reassure disabled passengers that, where their ticket has been confirmed in full knowledge of their
disability, they may make their journey as planned.

In parallel to this, since the law cannot cover everything and voluntary action may often produce better
results, the Commission is encouraging the airlines and airports to develop user-service charters which
contain, among other things, the development and blanket application of good practices regarding the
treatment of disabled passengers.

All these initiatives obviously require highly detailed preparation and the Commission intends to conduct
the appropriate consultations. Contacts have already been made to that effect with the European
organisations representing disabled passengers.

As regards the air transport projects funded by the Community, the specialist funds such as the cohesion
fund or the budgetary heading relating to trans-European networks are used extensively in extending and
improving airport infrastructure. Although that does not specifically concern disabled-passenger accessi-
bility, these projects must obviously be in line with the laws applying in that area.

As for research, within the fifth framework programme, the programme entitled (cid:145)quality of life and
management of living resources(cid:146), and the action line (cid:145)Research relating to persons with disabilities(cid:146) enable
relevant research projects to be submitted. In addition work on information society technologies addresses
access to Information technology (IT) networks, products and services by people with special needs,
including elderly and disabled people. Though not directly addressing air transport, the results may support
elderly and disabled people indirectly, for example by providing information on access to local transport
systems (the Turtle project).

(1) COM(2000) 365 final.

(2001/C 103 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2094/00

by Gianfranco Dell(cid:146)Alba (TDI) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Community rules on plant protection products

Articles 84 and 85 of the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community explicitly
prohibit abuse of dominant positions, which could have a negative impact on product prices and on the
free movement of goods and encourage practices liable to prevent other operators from entering or staying
on the market.

However, this is precisely the effect produced by Article 13 of Council Directive 91/414 (1) of 15 July
1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. The article in question gives data
holders who also produce active substances the right to deny access to that data to formulating companies,
notably small and medium-sized firms; as a result, the competent authorities of the Member States may
cancel authorisations to manufacture and sell plant protection products.