WRITTEN QUESTION P-2883/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. High accident rates on the 1992 motorway (Spain).
Date: 2000-09-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, accident prevention, motorway, road safety, transport accident

C 136 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

(2001/C 136 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2881/00

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

Subject: High-speed rail link between Galicia and Portugal

(14 September 2000)

The Mayor of Oporto (Portugal), Mr Nuno Cardoso, recently declared (cid:129) voicing the feelings of the entire
society of northern Portugal (cid:129) that it is essential to build a high-speed rail link between Lisbon and El
Ferrol (Galicia), adding that within such a line the section between Oporto and Vigo, in conjunction with
the line linking Vigo to the European heartland via Valladolid, would be of vital
importance for the
Galicia-northern Portugal Euro-region. This view is shared in economic and social circles throughout
Galicia, and has been expressed with particular force by the mayors of the northern Portuguese and
Galician cities which are grouped together as the (cid:145)Atlantic Axis(cid:146).

In view of this, can the Commission state whether it has yet taken any decision on (cid:129) or whether it is, at
least, aware of (cid:129) the plans of the Portuguese and Spanish governments for a high-speed rail line starting
from Oporto and linking northern Portugal with all of Galicia? Have any negotiations with the Commis-
sion been initiated by the Galician regional government or its president, via the Galicia-Northern Portugal
Association (which the Galician president currently chairs), with a view to obtaining the necessary
investment for this project, given the immense benefits which it will bring to the societies of Galicia and
Portugal?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

As part of its regular contact with the regional authorities, the Commission has noted the discussions and
studies relating to the Oporto-Galicia corridor, which is multimodal and links together Portugal and Spain
with the heartland of Europe.

The Commission has taken no decisions in this connection. The matter will be examined when the
updated TEN guidelines to be put forward before the end of 2000 are revised, since that corridor already
forms part of the TEN priority project known as the multimodal link between Portugal, Spain and the
heartland of Europe.

The Commission is not empowered to initiate negotiations on the funding of the work referred to. In all
instances the Community funding for this type of work is always granted in accordance with the existing
legal instruments.

(2001/C 136 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2883/00

by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: High accident rates on the (cid:145)1992 motorway(cid:146) (Spain)

(6 September 2000)

A complaint lodged by the Association of Victims of the 92 Motorway, which links Seville to the province
of Granada, states that this motorway is the most dangerous and accident-ridden in the whole of Europe.

Since this road was completed in 1996, it has been the theatre of 3 057 traffic accidents: 290 people have
been killed, 1 554 seriously injured and 2 702 less seriously injured.

In the last year the accident count has risen even further, to 253 with 42 people killed and 346 injured.

The Commission has repeatedly expressed its concern over road safety, in particular in its communication
(cid:145)Priorities in EU road safety (cid:129) Progress report and ranking of actions(cid:146), while the construction of the
motorway concerned by the Andalusian regional government received ERDF funding.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Is the Commission aware of the numerous defects existing in the construction, structures, signposting and
maintenance of this motorway, which was financed with Community funding?

What measures does the Commission believe should be taken to normalise this state of affairs and bring
this totally unacceptable accident rate under control?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2000)

The Commission notes the data reported by the Honourable Member but must stress the multiplicity of
possible factors in accidents occurring on the motorway in question.

It attaches great importance to the quality and user safety of construction work effected by the Member
States, notably transport infrastructure, but must remind the Honourable Member that there are no
legislative measures at Community level in this field and that all applicable standards are the province of
Member States. It is of course ready to examine any proposal that would improve user safety on this
motorway.

It has in fact included in the Community support framework for 2000-2006 for the Spanish Objective 1
regions an indicator to measure the reduction in loss of human life on Spanish roads.

As regards improvement of the A-92 motorway, the Commission has been informed that the Andalusian
Regional Government intends to renew some parts of it.

(2001/C 136 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2886/00

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Special privileges for Lufthansa

Why has the European Commission dropped proceedings against Germany and against the German
national airline Lufthansa which would have required the company to allow a majority of its stock to be
owned by foreigners? In so doing, the Commission has accepted the company(cid:146)s rule forbidding foreign
ownership (cid:129) a rule which contravenes the single market laws on the free movement of capital.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The Honourable Member is probably referring to infringement proceedings that the Commission has
opened against Germany concerning certain provisions contained in §4 and §5 of the law (cid:145)Luftverkehrs-
nachweissicherungsgesetz(cid:146) (LuftNaSiG of 5 June 1997).

Those provisions prescribe measures that can be taken by German companies, operating as air transport
carriers within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992, on licensing of air
carriers (1). The measures aim at ensuring that such companies remain majority owned by German
nationals, so as not to risk losing landing rights in countries with which Germany has negotiated bilateral
air transport agreements.