WRITTEN QUESTION E-3671/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Introduction of blind-spot mirrors.
Date: 2000-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, commercial vehicle, common transport policy, motor car, safety device

C 174 E/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

According to the information provided by the Honourable Member in Written Question E-2194/00 (3), the
plan is to build a number of commercial properties and a big cinema complex in Puerto de Grau,
Castell(cid:243)n.

This type of project is listed in point 10(b) of Annex II to the said Directive (urban development projects,
including the construction of shopping centres and car parks) and therefore, under the terms of Article
4(2), it must be made subject to an impact assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 if the Member
State concerned considers that its characteristics so require.

On the basis of the information currently available, the Commission does not consider that the project falls
under Annex I, point 8(b) (trading ports, piers for loading and unloading connected to land and outside
ports (excluding ferry piers) which can take vessels of over 1 350 tonnes).

The Commission, in its role as guardian of the Treaties, will take the necessary measures to ensure that
Community law is observed in the case in question.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(3) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001, p. 84.

(2001/C 174 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3671/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 November 2000)

Subject: Introduction of blind-spot mirrors

In the Belgian Federation, fifteen people have already been killed on the roads this year because truck-
drivers failed to see them in the blind spot left by their wing-mirrors. According to the Belgian Road Safety
Institute, a truck-driver on average fails to see a road-user to the right of his vehicle in his wing-mirror five
times every day.

Yet there is a simple solution to the problem, the special blind-spot mirror. This is a small convex mirror
which is also used when taking dangerous hairpin bends. However, in order to make it compulsory to
instal these mirrors on vehicles (cid:129) notably trucks (cid:129) Directive 71/127/EEC (1) (last amended by Directive
88/321/EEC (2) of 16 May 1988) would have to be amended.

Would the Council support a proposal by the Commission to amend Directive 71/127/EEC (last amended
by Directive 88/321/EEC of 16 May 1988) so as to make it compulsory for vehicles (cid:129) notably trucks (cid:129) to
be fitted with blind-spot wing mirrors? If not, why does the Council not consider it necessary to introduce
such mirrors in order to reduce the number of deaths on the roads caused by this problem? In its opinion,
what more effective ways might there be of solving the problem of the blind spot in the field of vision of
drivers?

(1) OJ L 68, 22.3.1971, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 147, 14.6.1988, p. 77.

Reply

(8 March 2001)

The Council shares the opinion of the Honourable Member. It considers that a solution to the problem of
the blind spot in the field of vision of drivers of motor vehicles is among the measures which could make
a major contribution to a reduction in the number of road accidents.

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/111

On 26 June 2000 the Council adopted a Resolution on the improvement of road safety (1) which enlarges
upon the priorities indicated by the Commission in the communication it submitted in March 2000 in the
context of the second Community action programme promoting road safety in the European Union for the
period 1997 to 2001.

In its Resolution, the Council invited the Commission to submit seven legislative proposals as quickly as
possible and to continue work on a number of investigative and information measures. The legislative
measures include the one referred to by the Honourable Member, namely to amend Directive 71/127/EEC
in such a way as to increase the field of lateral and rear visibility of vehicles, thus reducing blind spots.

The Council is awaiting a proposal from the Commission along those lines and will certainly accord that
proposal due priority.

(1) OJ C 218, 31.7.2000, p. 1.

(2001/C 174 E/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3675/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 November 2000)

Subject: Special scheme for access to Portuguese universities for the families of EU officials

In its answer to my Written Question, No E-2898/98 (1), the Commission stated on 30 November 1998
that pursuant to an amendment to the law (1998) there is no longer any special preferential scheme for
access to Portuguese universities for the families of EU officials.

Is it true that this legal situation has been changed once more to the detriment of school-leavers from the
European School who do not have a parent employed by the European Union? If so, in the light of the
principle of equal opportunities laid down in European law, what is the Commission(cid:146)s opinion with regard
to this situation as it affects both the Portuguese citizens who are the victims of this discrimination and
school-leavers from the European School who are nationals of other EU Member States?

(1) OJ C 135, 14.5.1999, p. 135.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2001)

With regard to Portuguese universities(cid:146)
treatment of school-leavers from the European Schools, the
Commission would like to refer to the declaration by the Schools(cid:146) Board of Governors of 15 October
1997, pertaining to Mr Machado(cid:146)s petition No 263/96. According to this declaration, the European
Baccalaureate awarded by the European Schools is the same qualification for all pupils, with no breakdown
into categories.

Article 5-2 of the Convention of 12 April 1957 states that holders of this qualification enjoy all the
benefits associated with the possession of a secondary school leaving certificate or diploma in their own
country and may apply for admission to any university on the territory of the contracting parties with the
same entitlements as nationals of that country with equivalent qualifications.

In general, it should be remembered that the organisation of education systems, including the recognition
of qualifications and university admission criteria, is a matter for the Member States. As a consequence,
and in strict compliance with Article 12 of the EC Treaty, which prohibits any direct or indirect
discrimination on the grounds of nationality, the competent authorities are entitled, in principle, to make
admission to universities dependent on obtaining academic recognition for qualifications acquired in
another Member State.