WRITTEN QUESTION E-0640/01 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Environmental impact of Low Frequency Active Sonar.
Date: 2001-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: environmental impact, marine environment, marine mammal, protection of animal life, remote sensing

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/91

is able to eliminate competition, this firm is dominant. This automatically implies that once dominant
a company cannot fulfil all four conditions for exemption under Article 81(3) and individual exemption of
its agreements is thus not possible. This is why, for instance, dominant companies should in general refrain
from imposing non-compete obligations or applying loyalty rebates.

The described application of the Community competition rules is in agreement with the fundamental
principle of non-discrimination as it treats equally firms who are in a similar situation; it treats equally
those that are equal. However, the rules make a justified difference in treatment between companies that
are not in a similar position. To treat differently those that are not equal does not conflict with the
principle of non-discrimination. The rules are stricter for those with market power than for those without
and the rules are strictest for dominant companies. Articles 81 and 82 (ex Article 86) of the EC Treaty
make it clear that dominant companies can not engage in certain practices open to non-dominant
companies because they are not in a similar market position.

(2001/C 318 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0640/01

by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Environmental impact of Low Frequency Active Sonar

(6 March 2001)

It has been alleged in Germany that sound waves from Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) both above
and below water cause harm to cetaceans in the EU(cid:146)s seas. The German government has been testing LFAS
systems for military purposes.

Is the European Commission, in one of its many environmental research capacities, considering this issue
and studying the effects of LFAS on the marine environment?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2001)

Although the specific programme on (cid:145)Energy, environment and sustainable development (cid:129) Key action 3:
Sustainable marine ecosystems(cid:146) in no way precludes taking proposals for research on the impact of Low
Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) systems on cetaceans into consideration, the Commission has received no
applications for funding research on this subject in response to the invitations to submit proposals
published for this programme to date.

(2001/C 318 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0641/01

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(6 March 2001)

Subject: Milk brand names

In Italy cartons of milk are marketed using the names of specific geographical areas (for example, Busto
Arsizio milk or Brianza milk) without there being any connection between the area mentioned on the
packaging and the area in which the milk is actually produced, which may be different.

Can the Commission say whether or not such commercial practices are in breach of the regulations in
force in this area?