WRITTEN QUESTION E-2980/00 by Marie-Noëlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission. Fuel prices in the European Union.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: business administration, driving period, motor fuel, prices, road transport, transport company, transport regulations, working time

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/145

(2001/C 136 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2980/00

by Marie-Noºlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Fuel prices in the European Union

The present sharp and probably lasting rise in fuel prices is adding to the problems of European transport
firms, which were already experiencing major difficulties following the opening-up of competition without
the protection of social
legislation, and which are daily having to cope with competition from firms
practising social dumping and unacceptable working conditions.

What decision will the Commission propose to help reduce the cost of fuel and fix it at a level which is
reasonable while on the other hand encouraging the economic use of fuel, irrespective of the demands of
OPEC?

Does the Commission propose to submit soon for a further reading the draft directive on lorry-drivers(cid:146)
working time?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2000)

In order to make road transport more consistent the Commission sent a communication entitled (cid:145)Towards
a safer and more competitive high-quality road transport system in the Community(cid:146) (1) to Parliament and
the Council on 21 June 2000.

In that communication the Commission:

(a)

stated its preparedness to contemplate a temporary exclusion of self-employed drivers in order to free
the debates within the Council on the proposal for a Directive concerning the organisation of working
time for mobile workers performing road transport activities, and for self-employed drivers (2);

(b) announced the introduction of a proposal

for a Council Regulation intended to combat social
dumping and to guarantee the suitability of the conditions under which road haulage drivers were
employed;

(c) describe the action needed to increase the efficiency of checks on road transport operations and

(d) announced that a proposal for a Directive would be put forward, the aim of which was to introduce

common rules on the initial and on-going training of professional drivers.

The Commission does not intend to take any action on lowering fuel prices. Apart from the matter of
whether the Commission is so empowered, such action would be ineffective and would not provide the
energy-saving incentives desired by the Honourable Member.

Conversely the Commission is contemplating the introduction of a package of measures intended to boost
the consistency of road transport before the end of the year. That package will include, in particular, the
amended proposal concerning weekend bans on the use of heavy lorries, a proposal concerning the
working conditions for professional drivers, the organisation of working time within road transport, an
the Community rules concerning driving time and driver(cid:146)s rest periods, a proposal
amendment of
concerning the professional training of drivers, and action on roadside checks.

(1) COM(2000) 364 final.
(2) OJ C 43, 17.2.1999.