WRITTEN QUESTION E-0498/01 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transalpine transport: Brenner Base Tunnel and transalpine link between Lyon and Turin.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Alpine Region, Austria, France, Italy, common transport policy, rail network, rail transport, trans-European network, tunnel

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/127

Does the Commission take the view that Article 82f of the Netherlands media law is in accordance
1.
with European telecommunications legislation, and in particular with the provisions on the management
of radio spectrum policy in the directive on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and
services, and the forthcoming changes to this directive?

2.
Does the Commission agree that the goal of an auction is to ensure that scarce resources are
allocated efficiently, and does it agree that the ban preventing two associated radio stations from both
being eligible for FM terrestrial frequencies provides no guarantee that the scarce space will actually be
utilised efficiently?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2001)

1.
Directive 97/13/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 10 April 1997 on a common framework
for general authorisations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services (the Licensing
Directive) concerns the procedures for granting general authorisations and individual licences.

the Directive already indicates that

The title of
the radio broadcasting services referred to by the
Honourable Member are not included in the scope of the Directive, because they are not considered to
be telecommunications services. Article 1(1) of the Directive confirms this.

The future regulatory framework, as proposed by the Commission in July 2000, is intended to cover all
transmission networks for electronic communications including networks and services for the transmission
of radio or television broadcasts. However, the proposed framework does not cover the provision of
content services, including broadcast content. In any case, the Commission proposal is currently under
negotiation in the Parliament and the Council and an assessment of the provisions referred to by the
Honourable Member would have to wait until a final text for all relevant Directives has been adopted.

It is the Commission(cid:146)s understanding that the restriction of granting only one licence per radio
2.
broadcaster, as laid down in Article 82f of the Dutch Media Law, may serve a specific purpose, for instance
to ensure media pluralism.

However, the provision itself provides for a derogation under paragraph 3 in order to take into account
the efficient use of radio frequencies. The Dutch Media Law thus allows the Dutch authorities to act on the
basis of the criterion of an efficient use of radio frequencies and grant more than one frequency to a radio
broadcaster.

(2001/C 261 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0498/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Transalpine transport: Brenner Base Tunnel and transalpine link between Lyon and Turin

What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of France(cid:146)s and Italy(cid:146)s plans to build a transalpine rail link between Lyon
and Turin? Is this going to be the only project for transalpine transport and will it jeopardise the future of
the Brenner Base Tunnel project, or will Italy honour its commitment and proceed with a second major
transalpine transport project and build a Brenner Base Tunnel?

C 261 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2001)

The Commission welcomes the decision taken by the Italian and French governments with regard to the
Lyon (cid:129) Torino Alpine crossing project and would in fact favour of an accelerated implementation of the
project. This project having been identified in the transport trans-European network (TEN) Guidelines as
project of common interest and, on top of this, forming part of the 14 transport TEN projects endorsed as
priority by the European Council at Essen, the Commission is committed to promoting this project to the
best of its ability. Particular attention is being given in this respect to the planned Mont Cenis base tunnel
which would connect both Member States involved.

Lyon (cid:129) Torino will not remain the only Alpine crossing railway project of the trans-European transport
network. The Brenner project, linking M(cid:252)nchen and Verona and involving a base tunnel under the Brenner
pass comparable in scope, technical features and cost to that under the Mont Cenis, deserves the same
degree of attention. This project also being included in the list of (cid:145)Essen projects(cid:146), the Commission has
already granted significant political and financial support in past years, and taken a number of initiatives to
facilitate co-operation amongst the parties involved. The Commission notes with satisfaction that, thanks
to the commitment of the Member States concerned (i.e. Italy and Austria in particular) and with the
Commission(cid:146)s support, noticeable progress was made in the last few years with the technical studies for the
Austrian Inn Valley section (now ready for construction) and with the preparation of the Brenner base
tunnel. The setting up of the (cid:145)Brenner Base Tunnel European economic interest grouping (EEIG)(cid:146) at the end
of 1999 has provided for an efficient execution of technical, environmental, geological, financial and
economic studies. These studies now being well under way, their completion is envisaged for around
2006/2007. The Commission is paying particular attention to enquiries into alternative financing concepts
for the financing of the Brenner project, which are about to be launched, and provides appropriate
assistance in this respect. These activities show in the Commission(cid:146)s view that the Italian government
remains fully committed to the Brenner project.

(2001/C 261 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0501/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Acoustically reflective gillnets

In order to prevent cetacean bycatch, scientists in the USA have invented an acoustically reflective gillnet
which reflects audio signals in the range that small cetaceans can hear. Is this Commission aware of this?

When these nets were tested in the USA and Canada, fishermen reported a significant reduction in levels of
bycatch.

Given the large numbers of small marine animals that are caught in gillnets in European waters, does the
Commission intend to support the testing of these types of gillnets within the EU?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2001)

The Commission is aware of this kind of acoustically reflective gillnet and information on the results of
preliminary tests has also been made available to the Directorate general Environment and Directorate
general Fishery through the Bristol report of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the
Baltic and North Seas (Ascobans).