WRITTEN QUESTION E-0716/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Exclusion of fisheries and marine sciences from the sixth R & D programme.
Date: 2001-03-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, fishing industry, oceanography

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

C 318 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Even though fisheries and marine sciences were included in the Fifth R & D framework programme (1998-
2002), it appears that the Commission has entirely or partially excluded them from the draft decision on
the Sixth framework programme for research and technological development activities (2002-2006), the
final version of which is shortly to be submitted to the College of Commissioners for adoption.

Can the Commission confirm that fisheries and marine sciences have been excluded and, if so, explain
why?

If this sector is not to be excluded or is to be only partially excluded, can the Commission say to what
extent it will be covered in the Sixth R & D framework programme 2002-2006, and can it provide the
relevant budget estimates?

Can the Commission list the projects, investment and funding, by Member State, allocated to fisheries and
marine sciences under the Fifth R & D framework programme (1998-2002)?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2001)

Fishing and the marine sciences are not excluded from the proposal for the 2002-2006 Sixth framework
programme for research and technological development.

As an activity needed for implementing a Community policy fishery research may benefit from specific
support under the activities covered by the heading (cid:145)Anticipating the Union(cid:146)s scientific and technological
needs(cid:146).

It is planned that these activities will be carried out on the basis of annual decisions in terms of both the
specific topics adopted and the means to be allocated to these, the choices being made in the light of needs
(cid:145)on the basis of the work of an internal user group drawing upon the advice of an independent
consultative body consisting of high-level scientific and industrial experts(cid:146).

The very nature of the procedure put forward for implementing that part of the framework programme
means that the monies allocated to researching the various areas cannot be determined in advance.

Certain aspects of the fishery and aquaculture research are, moreover,
carried out in the priority area (cid:145)Food safety and health hazards(cid:146).

involved in the activities to be

Since this concerns the priority (cid:145)Sustainable Development and Planetary Change(cid:146), this provides for research
into the marine sciences and oceanography.

In one case as in another it is not possible to determine in advance to any degree of accuracy what will be
the total amount of money spent on research into fishery and the marine sciences. Firstly that amount will
in any case depend upon the quality of the proposals received.

A list of the research projects relating to fishery and the marine sciences so far adopted under the current
1998-2002 framework programme, and the tables showing their distribution among the Member States,
will be sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament.

(2001/C 318 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0720/01

by FrØdØrique Ries (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 March 2001)

Subject: Transnationally abducted children and the case of the Limet / de Brouwer children in Kenya

In 1994, Marie de Brouwer, a Belgian citizen, left Belgium to start a new life in Kenya and separated from
her husband and her three children.

The custody of the three children was awarded to the father, Olivier Limet and confirmed by the Brussels
Court of Appeal in 1997.