WRITTEN QUESTION P-3826/00 by Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission. Improper use of the Valpolicella brand name in a publicity campaign against drink-driving.
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, Italy, advertising malpractice, designation of origin, intra-EU trade, red wine, road safety

C 151 E/208

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3826/00

by Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Improper use of the Valpolicella brand name in a publicity campaign against drink-driving

An article published on 12 November 2000 in the Verona newspaper (cid:145)Arena(cid:146) reveals that Valpolicella
Consortium advertisements have been used in Ireland in a campaign against drink-driving in an improper
and damaging way. The Valpolicella brand name is shown in the campaign with the letters (cid:145)police(cid:146), which
appear within the word, highlighted in red so as to create an obvious connection between the name of the
wine and checks by police officers.

Although a publicity campaign against drink-driving is a legitimate and praiseworthy initiative, does the
Commission not consider that the use of a specific registered appellation of origin, such as the Valpolicella
Consortium, constitutes a defamatory act resulting in considerable commercial damage to the brand name?

What steps does the Commission intend to take to resolve the situation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2001)

The Commission has no knowledge of the facts referred to by the Honourable Member. It has asked the
Member State concerned for information and will inform the Honourable Member of its findings.

(2001/C 151 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3877/00

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Electrically assisted bicycles

Can the Commission confirm that European legislation will soon require simultaneous pedalling on
electrically assisted bicycles i.e. when the pedalling stops, the motor also stops? If so, UK legislation,
which currently allows for bikes to be ridden in (cid:145)electric-only(cid:146) mode, will be changed.

Does not the Commission agree that current restrictions on the weight of the vehicle, motor power and
the maximum motorised speed provide ample and sufficient limits on such vehicles, thereby allowing them
to be treated as pedal cycles?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2001)

A proposal for a Parliament and Council Directive (1) amending Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June
1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles (2) is currently under discussion in
the Council working party for motor vehicles. In the original Commission proposal, which has been
accepted by the Parliament without amendments in its first reading on 27 October 1999 certain vehicles
are exempted from the scope.

Beside other vehicles this Commission proposal foresees the exclusion of (cid:145)cycles with pedal assistance
(EPACs) which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum power of 0,25 kilowatt
(kW), of which the output is progressively reduced as the vehicle speed increases, being cut off altogether
at a speed of 25 kilometre per hour (km/h), and which cannot be propelled solely by means of such a
motor(cid:146).