WRITTEN QUESTION E-4053/00 by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Council. Right of disabled people to take guide dogs in taxis.
Date: 2001-01-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, competence of the Member States, domestic animal, facilities for people with disabilities, physically disabled person, taxi

C 235 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

(2001/C 235 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4052/00

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 January 2001)

Subject: Implementation of Community environmental legislation (cid:129) structural fund financing in the Epirus

region

Two hydroelectric plants are to be built in the municipalities of Egnatia and Metsovo in the Ioannina
region of Greece. One is already under construction in the area of Mikro Peristeri (Paleokhorio district) and
the other is planned for the area of Anilio.

In both areas there are monuments at risk of being destroyed by these projects and in neither case have
the procedures for informing the public been observed or public opinion been taken into account.

Furthermore, the projects are receiving 45 % of their funding from the operational programme for energy
under the 2nd Community Support Framework for Greece.

In addition to the general framework set by Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) 1260/1999 (1) laying
down general provisions on the Structural Funds, concerning the observance of environmental legislation,
Articles 6 and 8 of Council Directive 85/337/EEC (2), as amended by Directive 97/11/EC (3), provide for the
public concerned to be given information and for their opinion to be taken into account when the projects
are funded.

Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/11/EC, has not yet been fully transposed into Greek
national law. What measures will the Commission take to ensure that Community Directive 85/337/EEC,
and Articles 6 and 8 thereof in particular, is implemented in practice in the above areas to avoid the
adverse impact of the above projects on the cultural and natural environment in the region of Ioannina?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

According to the information provided to the Commission by the Greek authorities, the procedure
required by national and Community legislation on environmental impact statements and consultation of
the public concerned was followed in the case of these two projects.

(2001/C 235 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4053/00

by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Council

(15 January 2001)

Subject: Right of disabled people to take guide dogs in taxis

A visually impaired guest who had been taking part in a disabled people(cid:146)s art exhibition at the European
Parliament(cid:146)s place of work in Brussels was not permitted to take his guide dog in a taxi. He asked six
different taxis, but they all refused to take the guide dog in the car.

Guide dogs which assist blind and physically handicapped people are indispensable to their owners. It is
absolutely essential that disabled people should be able to travel in as trouble-free a way as possible. They
should not therefore be hindered in their use of public services.

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/53

Do taxi drivers have the right under Belgian law to refuse to take guide dogs on board? How does the
Council propose to ensure that disabled persons have the right to take a guide dog with them in a taxi?

Reply

(7 May 2001)

The Council is aware of the type of situation raised by the Honourable Member but does not have any
powers to deal with the matter.

(2001/C 235 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4056/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Council

(15 January 2001)

Subject: European army

Will the Council state:

(a) what funds have been allocated or budgeted for setting up a European army, and

(b) how the individual Member States are going to contribute,

in terms both of resources (including

manpower) and costs, and what budgets have been envisioned for the participating Member States?

Reply

(14 May 2001)

1.
At the European Council the Member States set themselves an overall objective that: cooperating
voluntarily, they must be able by 2003 to deploy within 60 days and sustain for at least one year military
forces of up to 50 000-60 000 persons capable of
the full range of conflict prevention and crisis
management tasks defined in the Treaty on European Union, the so-called (cid:145)Petersberg tasks(cid:146). The European
Council also stressed that this did not imply the creation of a European army. The Union should have the
capability to decide and, where NATO as such is not involved, to launch and conduct military operations
under its leadership to tackle international crises. NATO remains the basis of the collective defence of its
members and will continue to play an important role in crisis management.

2.
The troops put at the disposal of the EU to carry out EU-led operations would continue to be
national troops. Therefore no funds would need to be budgeted or allocated for setting up this rapid
reaction force.

3.
On 20 November 2000 the Member States participated in a Capabilities Commitment Conference,
where they announced their voluntary commitment to fulfilling the military capability goals set in Helsinki.
The Conference also made it possible to identify a number of areas where efforts or contributions, on
either a national or a multinational basis, will be made to upgrade existing military assets, investment and
cooperation so as gradually to acquire or enhance the capabilities required for crisis management
operations led by the Union. It is for each Member State to assess whether its contribution to the
capabilities objectives implies new financial commitments and, if so, to provide for the corresponding
resources.