WRITTEN QUESTION E-0715/01 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Maximum speed of agricultural and forestry tractors.
Date: 2001-03-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: driving licence, harmonisation of standards, road safety, safety standard, tax system, tractor, traffic regulations

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/107

(2001/C 318 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0715/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 March 2001)

Subject: Maximum speed of agricultural and forestry tractors

In its answer to Question E-2241/00 (1), the Commission refers to the danger of distorting the competitive
position of conventional hauliers who are subject to stricter rules governing driving licences and higher
rates of taxation. The fact of the matter is, however, that a higher maximum speed will primarily shorten
the journey times of a tractor with attached implements from farm to field and/or from one piece of land
to another. In addition, according to existing national rules only agricultural produce may be transported
and only agricultural
tractors are suitable for transporting products from the field to the place of
destination since only they meet the necessary requirements for gathering in crops on the land and
transporting them elsewhere.

Can the Commission state whether it has taken account of these objections in drawing up the relevant new
framework directive and whether the latter has already been finalised?

(1) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001, p. 94.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2001)

It is true that the Commission is preparing a new version of framework Council Directive 74/150/EEC of
4 March 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of
wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (1).

One of the aims of this redrafting is to extend the scope of this framework directive to agricultural tractors
with a maximum speed of more than 40 kph. To this end, it will also be necessary to lay down specific
requirements, especially concerning safety and brakes. Once the new directive has been adopted, these
tractors will be subject to Community type-approval.

On the other hand, the issues of the driving licence needed for this kind of vehicle or the tax to be applied
do not come under the regulations on tractor type-approval, even if they are considered when drawing up
the proposal. These issues either come under special rules or are the responsibility of the Member States in
line with the principle of subsidiarity. With regard to driving licences, in fact, Council Directive 91/439/
EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences (2) excludes agricultural or forestry tractors from the scope of the
Directive. This matter is thus the responsibility of the Member States.

(1) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974.
(2) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.

(2001/C 318 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0716/01

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

(8 March 2001)

Subject: Exclusion of fisheries and marine sciences from the sixth R & D programme

research and technological
Fisheries and marine sciences require significant
development which will help to strengthen scientific research into fishing and aquaculture, in the light of
the shortage of fishing grounds and the need to continue research into new fisheries in a sector upon
which many jobs in peripheral coastal regions of the EU depend, and bearing in mind that these regions
themselves are heavily dependent on fisheries, which will play a strategic role as regards food security in
the future.

investment

funds for