WRITTEN QUESTION E-2999/00 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. EU standards for hands-free telephones.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: approximation of laws, highway code, mobile phone, road safety

C 136 E/152

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

In the light of these observations, how does the Commission plan to boost this programme in future years,
whilst maintaining the variety of the products distributed to those who need them most?

In particular, will it indicate how it intends to make use of the changes to the rules introduced in 1995 (by
Council Regulation (EC) No 2535/95 (2)), which authorise the purchase of temporarily unavailable products
on the Community market?

(1) OJ L 313, 30.10.1992, p. 50.
(2) OJ L 260, 31.10.1995, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2000)

As the Honourable Member points out, the study carried out in 1999 at the Commission(cid:146)s request
confirmed that the aid measure disposes of agricultural surpluses from intervention stocks in a manner
which benefits deprived persons in the Community.

The Commission has had occasion to propose to the budgetary authority that the appropriations allocated
to the measure should be increased from the original € 100 million in 1988 to € 200 million in more
recent preliminary draft budgets. Several times since 1997 the budgetary authority has reduced the overall
amount which the Commission was proposing to allocate to the measure.

The programme constitutes one source of supply for the associations which benefit from it (cid:129) and which
worked without it before its entry into force. After finding out what the associations need, Member States
taking part in the programme inform the Commission of their preferences from among all the products
available from intervention. The market organisation reforms undertaken in respect of the products
concerned may mean that a product is absent long term from intervention stocks and hence unavailable
under the programme.

In so far as the overall budget remains unchanged, that absence can be offset by increasing other products(cid:146)
quantity. The associations will therefore ask their other sources of supply for more of the products which
are no longer obtainable at European level and for correspondingly less of other products. The programme
is not, and is not intended to become, the only source of supply for the associations which benefit from it.

As in the past the Commission intends to continue to apply Council Regulation (EC) No 2535/95 of
24 October 1995 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3730/87 laying down the general rules for the supply of
food from intervention stocks to designated organisations for distribution to the most deprived persons in
the Community (1), which permits it to authorise the purchase of a product on the market if that product
is temporarily unavailable from intervention stocks.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2535/95 of 24 October 1995 (OJ L 260, 31.10.1995).

(2001/C 136 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2999/00

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: EU standards for hands-free telephones

The massive increase in the use of mobile telephones means that drivers in all Union countries also use
them whilst they are in their cars, although legal obligations differ from country to country, for example as
regards the permitted use of earphones connected to mobile phones, instead of the devices known as
(cid:145)speakerphones(cid:146).

Does the Commission not consider it would be useful to lay down Community standards in order to
introduce greater uniformity within the Union?

8.5.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/153

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

The Commission is aware of the debate on the potential dangers of using a mobile phone while driving
and is following the issue closely.

As the Honourable Member notes there are differing regulations in the Member States concerning the use
of mobile phones while driving.

Some Member States allow only (cid:145)hands free(cid:146) phones, others have no formal restriction on phone use, but
require in the highway code that the driver be fully in control of the vehicle at all times. Regarding (cid:145)hands
free(cid:146) telephones, the use of a speaker or ear-piece is not specified. The only requirement is that the driver
need not use their hands to operate the system.

Given that all Member States require the driver to be in full control of their vehicle at all times and the
rapid evolution of technology, the Commission does not feel it necessary to intervene at this stage and to
propose specific legislation for mobile phones. As the type of hands free mobile phone allowed also varies,
the Commission does not propose uniform standards for ear-pieces or speakers.

(2001/C 136 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3003/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Level crossing at Oios

As part of the Greek Railway Board (OSE) projects co-funded by the European Union plans are being
studied for a level crossing at Oios in the Aghios Stephanos area. The proposal by the Ergose for a flyover
to be built has met with criticism from the local authorities and the local inhabitants, given that this
proposal does nothing to solve the problem of the lack of cohesion of Aghios Stephanos which has been
cut in two by the railway lines and significantly degrades the natural and urban environment.

By decision No. 6/2000 the Prefectural Council of the Prefecture of Attica has rejected the environmental
study and called for consideration to be given to a solution involving lowering the level of the lines. The
Municipal Council of Aghios Stephanos (in decision 81/2000) and other local bodies reached similar
decisions and are calling for this solution to be examined. The main argument used by the Ergose in the
face of these demands is the impossibility of securing the necessary appropriations to implement the
project of lowering the level of the rails.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that consideration is given to the solution of
lowering the level of the rails which is the most appropriate solution from an environmental point of view
and is in line with the policy of integrated interventions and projects at local level?

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

(13 November 2000)

The forms of action to be jointly financed under the structural Funds and the projects to be jointly funded
under the cohesion fund are negotiated between the Commission and the Member States concerned. That
Member State is then to design and implement specific projects and activities while complying with
Community law. Subsequently the Commission only acts where there is a presumed infringement of
Community law. In view of the information provided by the Member State this would seem not to be the
case as regards the project at issue.