WRITTEN QUESTION E-2439/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Porto airport and solving Galicia's international air links problem.
Date: 2000-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, Portugal, Spain, air transport, airport, international transport, transport regulations

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/199

(2001/C 81 E/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 July 2000)

Subject: Return of driving licence to persons repeatedly convicted of extreme drunken driving

The European Union is currently seeking to harmonise the blood alcohol level leading to a conviction
for drunken driving at 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. At the same time consideration ought
also to be given to the conditions under which persons repeatedly convicted of extreme drunken driving
(e.g. in Finland over 100 mg of alcohol) can have their driving licences returned. In addition to the simple
driving ban, it might be advisable to insist that repeat offenders provide a doctor(cid:146)s opinion. It would be
possible to make the return of the driving licence conditional on a medical certificate determining the
seriousness of the drunken driver(cid:146)s alcohol dependence.

What measures does the Commission propose to take to harmonise practice in the EU states concerning
the return of the licence to persons convicted of extreme drunken driving?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Commission is seeking, by way of a new recommendation, to encourage a more harmonised regime
of maximum legal blood alcohol
levels, based around a general maximum level no higher than
50 milligram per milliliter (mg/ml) and with a lower maximum level of no higher than 20 mg/ml for
special categories of driver. Drivers caught above these levels would be, as they are now, penalised subject
to national legislation which may take the form of criminal conviction or administrative fine.

Furthermore the Commission does not propose any new measures concerning the return of a driving
licence following conviction for (cid:145)extreme drunken driving(cid:146). Penalties fall outside the competence of
European legislation. In addition, the definition of (cid:145)extreme drunken driving(cid:146) is one that is set at national
and not European level. At a more general level, in 1998 the Member States did agree on the mutual
recognition of driving disqualifications within the framework of the Convention on driving disqualifica-
tions (1). However the Convention remains to be ratified by the Member States.

(1) OJ C 216, 10.7.1998.

(2001/C 81 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2439/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Subject: Porto airport and solving Galicia(cid:146)s international air links problem

The Galician press has reported that the Portuguese Government intends to invest in extending Porto
airport so that it will be able to handle six million passengers in the year 2003. This involves attracting a
large part of the Galician international air travel market. Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities and the flag-
carrying Spanish airline refuse to allow Santiago de Compostela airport to have any direct international
links, which have to be made via Madrid or Barcelona.

C 81 E/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Does the Commission believe that the almost 3 million inhabitants of Galicia should have no alternative, at
a time when the (cid:145)single European sky(cid:146) project is being developed, than either to bow to Porto(cid:146)s ambitions,
with its airport only one hour from Vigo and two from Santiago, or to put up with the absurd
centralisation of air traffic in Madrid? What are the political and business reasons preventing Galicia
from having its own international airport in Santiago itself, capable of meeting present and future needs?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

Since 1 January 1993, Community air carriers are entirely free to establish the air services they consider as
commercially meaningful between any Community airport open to commercial operations.

The capability of an individual Community airport to develop direct air links to destinations in other
Member States depends on factors determining its commercial potential and on its capacity to draw the
attention of potential operators to such possibilities.

(2001/C 81 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2441/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Subject: Possible infringement of Council directive 92/43/EEC on the preservation of natural habitats

Situated between Barreiro and Ribadeo in Galicia, the Catedrais coastal area was put forward by the
Spanish Government for inclusion in the Natura 2000 European network, thus turning it into a natural
area under general protection.

This logically implies taking a preventive attitude towards the setting up of any establishments which by
their nature are not
the beach and the surrounding
environment.

in tune with the environmental purpose of

It is a fact that the Xunta de Galiza(cid:146)s Environment Quality Service did not draw up the report required for
issuing the licence to open a bar and restaurant requested in March 1999.

Is the Commission aware of this behaviour on the part of the Galician Government, and does it intend to
carry out the requisite enquiries and take steps to punish this infringement of Council Directive 92/43/
EEC (1) on the preservation of natural habitats?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

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

(7 September 2000)

The Commission was not aware of the case the Honourable Member is referring to. Issuing a licence for
the opening of a bar and restaurant on a site proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network is a
matter for the national authorities.

On the basis of the summary information supplied by the Honourable Member, the Commission has no
reason to suspect that the project in question is likely to have a significant impact. Only if the opposite
were the case could the provisions of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora be brought into play.