WRITTEN QUESTION E-3730/00 by Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission. Underground LPG tanks.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Abruzzi, pressure equipment, storage of hydrocarbons, trade restriction

C 163 E/202

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

(2001/C 163 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3730/00

by Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Underground LPG tanks

The LPG sector in Italy has a national turnover of more than ITL 6 000 billion and employs approximately
5 000 people.

Between 1996 and 2000 an estimated 150 000 epoxy-coated underground LPG tanks with cathodic
protection were produced in Italy and 110 000 in France; this type of LPG tank is approved and used on
a regular basis in other EU Member States such as Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Article 2 of Abruzzo Regional Law No 107 of 22 September 2000 stipulates that underground LPG tanks
must be protected by bitumen cement casings or must be double-walled, so as to contain any leaks and
enable the space between the inner and outer walls to be inspected. That technical requirement would
appear to cover specific types of construction only, thus excluding epoxy-coated tanks with cathodic
protection.

The new European directive concerning pressure equipment (97/23/EC) (1) draws attention to the fact that
disparities in the contents of the relevant laws, regulations and administrative provisions in force in the
Member States and in the certification and inspection procedures laid down by national law may well
constitute barriers to the free movement of the relevant products within the Community.

Does the Commission consider that the above law hampers the freedom of movement of such products
and leads to unjustified disparities in treatment between products which have been approved in accordance
with the relevant national provisions? If it does, what does it intend to do about this situation?

(1) OJ L 181, 9.7.1997, p. 1.

Answer by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

The matter to which the honourable Member refers has been the subject of a number of complaints that
have recently been lodged with the Commission. An inquiry concerning the Member State in question is
currently under way, with the aim of securing all
the necessary information on the matter. The
Commission will not hesitate, if need be, to take suitable measures in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 266 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(2001/C 163 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3731/00

by Florence Kuntz (UEN) to the Commission

(28 November 2000)

Subject: European Charter of Minority Languages and the teaching of Armenian

Since the 1915 genocide, the situation of the Armenian people has been without parallel: over half of the
world(cid:146)s Armenians are scattered across the entire planet. Thus in the EU Member States, we find Armenian
communities making sure that their culture survives by making educational and linguistic provision for
their children.

Learning Armenian and the language of the host country within the framework of official school education
allows these children to acquire complete mastery of their twofold cultural inheritance and to grow and
develop, both culturally and spiritually, within their own tradition and in their daily lives.

In France, western Armenian, taught in certain schools, has been classified as a language to be taken into
consideration within the framework of the European Charter of Minority Languages.