WRITTEN QUESTION E-2241/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Increasing the maximum speed of wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors.
Date: 2000-07-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural vehicle, common transport policy, speed control

C 103 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The fall
extremely remote areas, may therefore be due to the unscrupulous attitude of some operators.

in prices registered in recent months, which is extremely damaging to many producers in

What measures does the Commission intend to take, and how soon, to repair the damage suffered by these
producers?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

As soon as it was informed of the cases of fraud, and in particular of their nature, and following action
taken by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in collaboration with the Directorate-General Agriculture,
the Commission felt that it was essential that a number of measures be taken in the immediate future
aimed at strengthening the monitoring of import licence arrangements in the banana sector. A regulation
was adopted by the Commission to this effect on 25 July 2000 (1). It covers mainly checks, to be carried
out by the body issuing the import licences, on the authenticity of all licences/licence extracts used in the
Community, the distribution of the list of operators registered for the banana import arrangements with
the customs offices and the procedure to be followed by the customs services in the event of doubt as to
the authenticity of the licences/extracts presented for the release into free circulation of the bananas.

With regard to the banana producers from the most remote regions of the Community and the negative
impact these frauds would have had on them, the Commission reminds the Honourable Member that the
producers in question benefit from a compensatory aid scheme under which they receive for each
marketing year an aid corresponding to the difference between the flat-rate reference income and the
average level of prices obtained on the market.

The Commission would lastly point out that the 164 000 tonnes of bananas referred to by the Honourable
Member (in fact 163 000) are only a provisional evaluation of just one of the two cases of fraud
uncovered. Moreover, the duty to be paid on imports of non-quota bananas is currently € 680 per tonne.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1632/2000 (OJ L 187, 26.7.2000).

(2001/C 103 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2241/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 July 2000)

Subject: Increasing the maximum speed of wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors

The framework regulation, 74/150/EEC (1),
introduced EEC type-approval for agricultural and forestry
tractors. Directive 97/54/EC (2) increased the maximum speed of the latter from 30 to 40 km/h. Directive
2000/1/EC (3) made provision for other types of mechanical
links and couplings than those that had
received Community type-approval, thus removing the final obstacle to increasing the speed of agricultural
and forestry tractors.

The Economic and Social Committee, in its Opinion 97/C56/14, and the Council, in its Common Position
(EC) No 17/97, came out in favour of a maximum speed of over 40 km/h for agricultural and forestry
tractors.

In view of the foregoing, does the Commission intend to increase the maximum speed of wheeled
agricultural and forestry tractors?

(1) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974, p. 10.
(2) OJ L 277, 10.10.1997, p. 24.
(3) OJ L 21, 26.1.2000, p. 16.

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/95

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Since the adoption of Directive 97/54/EC (1), which increased the maximum design speed of wheeled
agricultural or forestry tractors from 30 to 40 kilometres per hour (km/h), the Commission has been
examining the circumstances and the types of tractors to which higher maximum speeds could apply.

Although under certain circumstances a road speed higher than 40 km/h could increase the productivity of
these vehicles, which are primarily designed for working in the fields or forests, account needs to be taken
of safety components such as braking devices and lights, in addition to environmental protection.

It should also be borne in mind that increasing the speed of tractors may have other repercussions. The
approval of faster tractors could lead to competition with conventional hauliers, which are subject to
stricter rules governing driving licences and higher rates of taxation.

framework Directive 74/150/EEC (2) on
Increasing the maximum speed presupposes the revision of
agricultural or forestry tractors, firstly to extend the scope of this Directive to other types of tractors and
their towed or driven trailers, machines and tools and secondly, to take account of all safety and
environmental components.

This work is now nearing its conclusion with a rewritten draft framework Directive to be sent to the
Parliament and the Council at the beginning of 2001. The issue of increasing road speed is currently under
consideration and it is too early to take a final position. However, it should be stressed that it is sometimes
difficult to harmonise Member States(cid:146) policies on issues relating to the use of agricultural vehicles on the
road and that at present there is no consensus on the subject.

(1) OJ L 277, 10.10.1997.
(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974.

(2001/C 103 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2247/00

by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Council

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Opus Dei and European officials(cid:146) right to exercise discretion

On 19 June the secretariat of the Council of Ministers refused to allow the holding of a meeting on its
premises organised by an association of officials, the Amicale de la pensØe critique, on the question (cid:145)Do
sects in general, and Opus Dei in particular, represent a threat to a democratic and pluralist Europe(cid:146)? on
the grounds that it was incompatible with European officials(cid:146) duty of discretion.

As, hitherto, European officials(cid:146) duty to exercise discretion has been applied in relation to the protection of
the interests of Member States of the Union, could the Council clarify which country(cid:146)s or countries(cid:146)
interests would have been adversely affected by holding the meeting in question?

Does the Council have a policy with regard to sects in Europe? If so, what is it?

Does the Council have a list of the organisations that are regarded as sects in the various Member States?

Does the Council believe that one or more countries regard Opus Dei as a sect?

What is the Council(cid:146)s policy with regard to officials who are members of sects?

Is the Council taking any action to prevent sect members organising inside the European institutions?

Who took the decision to prohibit the holding of the meeting in question?