WRITTEN QUESTION P-2771/00 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Climate-change levy and hydro power.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, State aid, energy policy, environmental standard, hydroelectric power, maintenance, power plant

C 136 E/90

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

Air accident statistics published regularly by the International Civil Aviation Organisation confirm that air
transport is one of the safest modes of transport and that levels of safety are even tending to improve
inasmuch as, notwithstanding a considerable increase in the number of passengers carried, the number of
airline accident victims has been constantly falling. Whereas in the course of the 1980s the average
number of persons killed annually in commercial air transport accidents worldwide stood at 1 146, during
the 1990s this average had fallen by more than 10 % to 1 015.

The figures for 1999 have been among the lowest ever recorded (cid:129) 512 fatalities. While it is certainly the
case that the initial figures for the current year do not justify hopes that the figures for 2000 will be at a
historically low level, neither do they provide any indication at this stage of a reversal in the trend.

Furthermore, the age of aircraft does not, in itself, appear to have been a significant cause of accidents.
Regulatory measures have been taken by the aviation authorities to step up the technical monitoring of
aircraft throughout the course of the ageing process. These measures are incorporated in the relevant
Community legislation (Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonisa-
tion of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (1)) and in the
interview protocols governing interviews with airline companies. Consequently, measures involving the
withdrawal of aircraft specifically on the grounds of age are not contemplated.

As regards the first-generation Boeing 737s referred to by the Honourable Member, it is worth stressing
that 818 of the 1 107 aircraft supplied to airline companies around the world are still in service and have
been involved in only 11 fatal accidents over the last 10 years. This represents a rate of one accident per
1,9 million flying hours.

Against this, the levels of fuel consumed by aircraft using outdated technology make them less attractive,
and airline companies are tending to replace them with more efficient aircraft. Similarly, their noise levels
are no longer acceptable in the developed countries on environmental grounds, and the Community has
taken measures to prohibit their entry into the fleet and gradually phase them out. Accordingly, certain
aircraft, such as the B 737-200, will no longer be allowed to operate in Europe from 1 April 2002, unless
they have undergone modifications to improve their acoustic performance.

(1) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.

(2001/C 136 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2771/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Climate-change levy and hydro power

I refer to Mrs de Palacio(cid:146)s Answer to my Written Question E-1811/00 (1) concerning hydrogenerated
electricity, and in particular to her statement that hydro power (cid:145)is clearly a renewable energy source, but
electricity from large hydroelectric installations (cid:133) is in general competitive and does not need particular
support(cid:146).

In the case of large installations whose mechanical components are nearing the end of their useful life,
maintenance of this power source clearly requires substantial expenditure on new plant. For example, in
Scotland most relevant installations are over 40 years old. Has the Commission any evidence that the cost
of refurbishing installations of this age is such that hydro power can continue to be competitive with other
renewables in the event of the latter receiving advantages withheld from hydro power?

If the Commission has such evidence, will it please supply that evidence or any published source in which
it may be discovered? If the Commission has no such evidence, will it reconsider its position in respect of
hydro power installations nearing the date at which refurbishment of mechanical components is essential?

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/91

Does the Commission agree that its own strategy concerning climate change would be defeated if one
consequence of its proposals was the closure of existing hydro installations in Scotland and other parts of
the EU similarly situated?

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(28 September 2000)

The Honourable Member inquires about the continuous competitiveness of large hydro power installations
in the specific case when these installations are over 40 years old and undergo refurbishing.

The Commission first of all would underline the importance of refurbishing hydro power to increase its
efficiency and environmental standards.

The Commission does not have at its disposal any study giving average values of the cost of refurbishing
in relation to the competitive position. In this context the Commission would point out that the costs of
refurbishing are site specific and the costs will depend very heavily on the type of refurbishing involved.

The Commission(cid:146)s state aid policy as regards renewables is primarily aimed at focusing public support
towards renewable energy technologies that are not yet mature enough to penetrate the market on their
own. On the contrary, the Commission thinks that pure replacement investment, such as refurbishment of
large hydroelectric installations, should in principle be carried out on the basis of commercial criteria, such
as future demand for electricity or the availability of financial reserves which have been built during the
lifetime of the hydro installation. Under the State aid rules, Member States only can under certain
conditions encourage investment into installations that goes significantly beyond mandatory environmental
standards.

In conclusion, the Commission thinks that its policy in favour of renewable energy sources does not lead
to the closure of hydroelectric installations and that its state aid policy is supporting the combat against
climate change while preventing inefficient use of public resources.

(2001/C 136 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2772/00

by Emilia M(cid:252)ller (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Eco-point quota for goods transport through Austria

How does the Commission intend to respond to the accusation that a 35 % reduction in the eco-
1.
point quota available in the Federal Republic of Germany until 2003 is entirely out of proportion to the
fact that the number of shipments authorised in 1999 was exceeded by 6 %?

2.
Is the Commission prepared to acknowledge that the 35 % reduction in the eco-point quota will
destroy many jobs in the production and transport sectors in the Federal Republic, and what action does it
plan to take to prevent this?

3.
Is the Commission prepared to take account of the fact that, for whatever reasons, the railways are
currently not able to make the contribution to transit traffic through Austria earmarked for them in the
accession treaty, and are certainly not in a position to cover for the road shipments which will be lost as a
result of the reduction in eco-points?

4. What is the Commission(cid:146)s response to the accusation that the reduction in the eco-point quota is not
consistent with the priority objective of free movement of goods and services laid down in the EEC Treaty
and Austria(cid:146)s accession treaty?

5.
How does the Commission assess the prospects for the many actions likely to be brought before the
European Court of Justice, since there is no legal basis in Austria(cid:146)s accession treaty for the disparities in
cuts between individual Member States?