WRITTEN QUESTION E-3756/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The European Spatial Strategy and the EU's Objective 1 outlying maritime regions.
Date: 2000-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU initiative, coastal region, common ports policy, economic and social cohesion, island region, less-favoured region, shipping policy, town and country planning

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/39

The strategic framework provided by the European Spatial Development Prospective gave the appropriate
political context and the necessary orientation to TERRA, which has taught local officials to (cid:145)look beyond(cid:146)
the limits of their administrative and geographical responsibility and tackle wider questions.
It has
confirmed the relevance of the ESDP political options for local action by drawing attention to the
problems posed by networking of divergent spatial planning cultures and administrative competences.

(2001/C 187 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3756/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: The European Spatial Strategy and the EU(cid:146)s Objective 1 outlying maritime regions

At the informal Council of Ministers responsible for spatial planning held in Potsdam in May 1999, the
Member States and the Commission adopted a document on the (cid:145)European Spatial Strategy(cid:146)
(ESS),
embodying a strategic vision of spatial planning at Community level and incorporating perspectives in
this area with a view to EU enlargement.

In its resolution of 7 February 1998 on spatial planning and the European Spatial Planning Perspective,
Parliament emphasised (in paragraphs 17 and 18) the need to adopt policies for the development and
renewal of the Union(cid:146)s ports, especially those situated in the remote and outermost regions, as well as the
need to encourage a global maritime policy aimed at developing communications within and outside
Europe by promoting maritime transport, as an environment-friendly mode which contributes to reducing
land transport congestion but is at present insufficiently developed, especially in the remote and outermost
regions.

Can the Commission comment on the form in which these positions of Parliament have been taken up in
the ESS?

What options are put forward in the ESS with a view to furthering economic, social and spatial cohesion
in the EU(cid:146)s Objective 1 outlying maritime regions?

Does the Commission not consider that a global maritime policy on the EU(cid:146)s part could make a decisive
contribution to economic, social and spatial cohesion in the EU(cid:146)s Objective 1 outlying maritime regions in
the context of those regions(cid:146) particular characteristics,
in the same fashion as the EC Treaty currently
recognises the particular characteristics of the Union(cid:146)s outermost regions?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(19 February 2001)

The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) was approved in May 1999 at the meeting of
ministers responsible for regional planning in Potsdam. It provides a guidance framework for the sectoral
policies of the Community and the Member States.

With regard to the role of ports, the ESDP states that (cid:145)setting up a European network of large sea ports,
including regional sub-systems of ports, would be in the interests of all regions.(cid:146) With more specific
reference to the outlying and outermost regions, the ESDP notes that (cid:145)access to the networks should be
improved, particularly by connecting insular, landlocked and peripheral areas to the central areas.(cid:146)

A feature of the Community(cid:146)s territory is the very high concentration of economic activity and population
in the central area. One of the main options of the ESDP is to promote the balanced and polycentric
development of the Community. To achieve this, it notes that (cid:145)the creation and enlargement of several
dynamic global economy integration zones provides an important instrument for accelerating economic
growth and job creation in the EU, particularly also in the regions currently regarded as structurally weak
(Objective 1 and 6 Areas of the current regional funds).(cid:146)

C 187 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

A large number of maritime regions in the south of the Community are eligible under Objective 1.
Through this Objective and the Interreg Community Initiative, which gives cooperation among maritime
regions and important role, the Community conducts an active policy to help those regions. In other fields,
such as the policy on short-distance transport, the PACT programme and policy on sea ports, including its
position on the trans-European transport networks, the Commission also takes into consideration the
needs of these regions, which have a vital role to play in promoting the more balanced development of the
Community.

(2001/C 187 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3759/00

by Gilles Savary (PSE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Commission(cid:146)s position on IATA tariff consultations

in its

The system operated by IATA for tariff consultations (on passenger fares and freight shipment rates) is an
essential element
transport worldwide to operate on
a coordinated and integrated basis, with long-recognised benefits to the consumer. This system has always
been supported by both the Member States and the Commission; the latter has taken the view that the
practices concerned are eligible for classification as group exemptions to the application of Article 81(1) of
the EC Treaty, pursuant to the provisions of Article 81(3).

inter-line arrangements, enabling air

Despite the above, under Regulation (EEC) 1617/93 as amended by Regulation (EEC) 1523/96 (1) and
Regulation (EEC) 1083/1999 (2), this group exemption is now limited to consultations on passenger fares
alone.
In 1997 IATA deposited a request with the Commission for an individual exemption for
consultations on freight shipment rates, but it has to date received no reply.

What are the Commission(cid:146)s intentions concerning renewal of the group exemption for consultations on
passenger fares? Do these intentions reflect the positions of the industry, consumers and Member States?

What are the reasons for the Commission(cid:146)s failure to date to rule on the request for an individual
exemption for consultations on freight shipment rates, given that it was deposited more than three years
ago? What are the Commission(cid:146)s intentions in this respect?

(1) OJ L 190, 31.7.1996, p. 11.
(2) OJ L 131, 27.5.1999, p. 27.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2001)

The system of the International air transport associations (IATA) tariff consultations was set up after World
War Two at a time when competition in air transport was very limited. The air transport market is now
very different, with liberalisation in the Community, the United States and elsewhere leading to effective
competition on many routes.

The Commission is currently considering whether to exempt the IATA passenger tariff consultations under
Article 81(3) for a further period and if so under what conditions. DG Competition will be publishing
a consultation paper within the next few weeks seeking the views of industry, consumers and other
interested parties on the usefulness of the IATA passenger tariff consultations in a competitive air transport
market and on possible alternatives to them.

The Commission confirms that IATA applied for an individual exemption for the cargo tariff consultations
in 1997 and that they are therefore protected from fines for these arrangements. When the Commission
withdrew the block exemption for the cargo consultations in 1996 the reasons given were that the
consultations were no longer necessary to enable interlining and that they resulted in high tariffs being set
for an individual
at

the expense of users. The Commission is currently examining IATA(cid:146)s request