WRITTEN QUESTION P-3744/00 by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Transport policy: transport prevention.
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, carriage of goods, common transport policy, environmental impact, supply and demand, sustainable mobility, transport planning

C 163 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

(2001/C 163 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3744/00

by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Transport policy: transport prevention

In its (cid:145)Opinion on long-term goods transport policy, part 2(cid:146) (August 1999) the Netherlands Council for
Transport, Public Works and Water Management refers to (cid:145)transport prevention(cid:146) as a policy option with a
view to restricting the growing transport needs in the Netherlands. The Ministry of Transport, Public
Works and Water Management writes in its 2000 National Transport Plan that a transport prevention
policy is being developed. The aim of transport prevention is to do away with the link between economic
growth and the growth in transport requirements. The policy operates in three ways: 1. reducing product
volume; 2. reducing transport distances; and 3. reducing return traffic flows.

At present the Ministry is subsidising various projects and investigating the possibility of putting this
policy into practice in other ways. These projects include: making products smaller and lighter by means
of new designs, dehydration of products, regional production/consumption of products, and the transfor-
mation of part of the production chain into virtual form (virtual auction).

Since the Commission is making efforts to achieve a sustainable European transport sector, and since the
Transport Council supports these efforts ((cid:145)The Council will achieve progress on environment-relevant
Commission proposals (cid:133)(cid:146) 2 204th Council meeting, Luxembourg, 6 October 1999), I should like to ask
the following questions:

1.

Is the Commission familiar with this policy trend in the Netherlands?

2.

Is the concept of transport prevention policy being debated in other countries?

3. Does the Commission consider that (cid:145)transport prevention(cid:146) is a sensible policy option in the interest of

reducing transport needs?

4.

In its new transport White Paper, does the Commission give any consideration to transport preven-
tion? If so, in what form? If not, does the Commission see any opportunities for transport prevention
at EU level? Is it prepared to encourage transport prevention through studies and policy initiatives?
Within what time-frame?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 2000)

The Commission is aware of the efforts of the Dutch government to reduce the negative impacts of

1.
transport using a whole series of measures.

2.
The growing negative impact of transport on society has caused policy makers to consider ways of
reducing it through (cid:145)decoupling(cid:146) transport growth from economic growth. The issue is discussed in a
number of Member States, and the United Kingdom Government has undertaken extensive work in this
area.

3.
Transport prevention is understood to imply a broad objective to reduce the negative impact of
transport. However there are various ways to achieve this objective. Rather than focussing on transport as
a negative element in the economy, Commission policy acknowledges the major benefits that transport has
provided in the development of Europe, but aims to reduce the negative consequences. The Commission(cid:146)s
objectives focus on ways to reduce the negative impacts of transport (such as levying charges to reduce
congestion or environmental emissions and investments in alternative forms of transport infrastructure to
ensure a modal shift to more benign forms of transport). Such measures are considered to be more
appropriate than a general strategy of transport reduction.

6.6.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/207

The forthcoming white paper, due early in 2001, will address the issue of the impact of transport in
4.
some detail, and outline the measures necessary to reduce this impact effectively. Redressing modal shift
(from road freight to rail, from urban car use to public transport) and reflecting more accurately transport
costs of journeys, are two clear means of reducing unnecessary transport journeys or journeys with social
costs exceeding the private benefits, whilst allowing socially beneficial transport to grow.

The Commission is working to develop measures for application at the level of the Community. In those
instances where the Community has competence, specific proposals will be made. For some measures,
such as regional or urban transport, national or regional transport plans are more appropriate.

The Commission is open to specific suggestions regarding appropriate Community studies and research in
this area to discover further policies the Commission could propose to reduce the cost and negative impact
of transport on society.

(2001/C 163 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3745/00

by Liam Hyland (UEN) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Dutch plan to construct a six-storey building for animals, fish and crops

Is the Commission aware of plans by the Dutch to construct a six-storey building (Agropark) for high-rise
farming of pigs, chicken, salmon and crops which is meeting resistance from farmers on the grounds that
holding 300 000 pigs in the same building could lead to a high risk of spreading disease and that, in
addition, the plan to house 1 million chickens in the same building could lead to further health risks and
does the Commission have any views on this proposal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

The Commission is aware of the project mentioned by the Honourable Member.

However the Commission has not received detailed information to suggest that such a plan is not in
compliance with the relevant Community legislation in particular regarding the field of environment,
animal health and animal welfare.

It should be mentioned that day to day enforcement of Community law is the responsibility of the Member
States. Therefore Dutch authorities are primarily in charge of ensuring that such a project complies with
Community rules.

(2001/C 163 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3748/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Serious deficiencies in hygiene conditions relating to farmed poultry in Greece (to be clarified)

The investigation carried out in Greece by the EU Food and Veterinary Office between 28 February and
10 March 2000 revealed serious deficiencies in hygiene conditions relating to farmed poultry in Greece.