WRITTEN QUESTION E-4117/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The hydrogen revolution and the future of automobile transport.
Date: 2001-01-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, common transport policy, energy policy, fuel cell, hydrogen, hydrogen production, motor fuel, research and development

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/21

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2001)

The Council has laid down the only conditions under which unlawful vine planting can be regularised in
Article 2(3) to (7) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the
market in wine (1). The Member States are responsible for adopting any statutory measures to ensure that
that Article is enforced. Where administrative penalties apply, i.e. in cases covered by Article 2(3)(a) and (c)
of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, the Council leaves it up to the Member State concerned to impose
(cid:145)an appropriate administrative penalty(cid:146).

As regards production aid for olive oil, the Commission has applied the provisions of Community
legislation. Since estimated olive-oil production for 1999/2000 exceeds the national guaranteed quantity,
the aid must be adjusted proportionally. Apulia is the foremost olive-oil producing region and its
producers may accordingly be assumed to have benefited from the Region(cid:146)s high olive-oil production.

The Commission does not intend introducing any derogation from the Regulation in force, particularly as
fixing the aid is the responsibility of the Council.

Apart from the standard rules governing the Single Market, the EC Treaty makes no provision for
Community competence for the costs of inputs in agriculture. It is therefore not in any position to
propose a measure to the Council to reduce the cost of fuel.

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.

(2001/C 318 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4117/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2001)

Subject: The hydrogen revolution and the future of automobile transport

Carlo Rubbia, Nobel prize winner for physics, claims that the energy crisis needs to be tackled by stepping
up research and development, describing innovation itself as the best of all renewable energies.

The Italian physicist believes that the next fifteen to twenty years will see a massive change, in which an
entire civilisation based on oil will be replaced by one running on hydrogen, a change comparable to the
way typewriters have been replaced by computers.

In the light of these major pronouncements from an outstanding physicist, what is the Commission(cid:146)s
position with regard to research into the use of hydrogen for automobile transport in the future? Does
research directly funded by the EU exist? What are the prospects for an all-embracing Community policy
in the medium and long terms?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2001)

The Commission considers that the use of hydrogen as an automotive fuel should offer environmental
benefits as well as contribute to improving the security of energy supplies. In particular, fuel cells directly
fuelled by hydrogen hold great promise as very efficient, zero emission (at point of use) energy converters.
The actual degree of benefit will, however, depend on how the hydrogen is produced, distributed, stored
and used. The benefits of hydrogen must also be weighed against other renewable fuels for transport. The
adverse impacts of transport can additionally be tackled through a better modal split. The Commission
intends to address these issues in a coherent manner, reflecting current policy initiatives in the areas of
transport and mobility, air quality and the environment, and global climate change.

C 318 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Over the last ten years, the Community research and technological development (RTD) programmes have
been allocating increasing research funding to fuel cells and hydrogen technologies for transport. There has
been a significant increase in RTD funding for fuel cells and hydrogen technologies, from some € 7,5
million per year in the Fourth framework programme to € 18 million per year in the Fifth (of which € 2-3
million is for hydrogen technologies). Different processes and primary energy sources (fuel pathways) are
being investigated for hydrogen production. Effort is directed at achieving substantial cost reductions.
Progress is being made in the area of harmonised standards, regulations and safety of hydrogen vehicles. In
addition, the Community has started discussions with key stakeholders on new transport fuels including
hydrogen, as a result of the Green Paper on security of energy supply (1), and in the forthcoming White
Paper on the common transport policy and the Communication on clean urban transport. A call for a study
on renewable fuels in transport is in preparation, including hydrogen generated from renewable energy.

The Community is also exploring the possibility of setting up an Community Fuel Cell and Hydrogen RTD
Advisory Group. This would assist the Community to make RTD in Europe more coherent and effective in
the context of a European Research Area. This would help to foster the development of the hydrogen and
fuel cell vehicle and components industries and supply chains and to promote harmonised standards and
regulations covering systems integration and safety, hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, and vehicle/fuelling
interfaces.

The Commission is currently preparing to launch a call for a study on renewable fuels in transport. This
study will look at hydrogen generated from renewable energy as one of the options investigated.

(1) COM(2000) 769 final.

(2001/C 318 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4128/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 January 2001)

Subject: Registration of ESF projects

At the beginning of next year a new registration system for ESF projects will be coming into force.
Applications for subsidies will automatically be treated as public contracts.

According to those working in this field, the practical implementation of ESF policy often conflicts with
the Commission(cid:146)s overly dirigiste approach. Regions and Member States find they have little room for
mapping out an autonomous ESF policy. There are evidently arguments over the registration of projects.
A structural solution to the distribution of tasks between Member States (or regions) and the Commission
is the only real answer. And at the moment local ESF promoters do not have a contact point at the
Commission, despite the fact that they are subject to Commission scrutiny.

1. What criteria will the Commission be using from 1 January 2001 for the registration of ESF projects?

2. What scope will Member States and regions be receiving for recognising local ESF promoters?

3. Will
applications for ESF subsidies?

the Commission recognise what are known as social profit organisations if

they submit

Is the Commission considering setting up a contact point for local ESF promoters? If not, how will

4.
the Commission be aiming to strike a balance between scrutiny and the right to information?