WRITTEN QUESTION E-1361/01 by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Allemagna axis from Venice to Dobbiaco, including the E66 Fortezza-San Candido road.
Date: 2001-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Italy, combined transport, common transport policy, road network, trans-European network, transport policy

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/135

(2001/C 350 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1361/01

by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(7 May 2001)

Subject:

(cid:145)Allemagna axis(cid:146) from Venice to Dobbiaco, including the E66 Fortezza-San Candido road

With its Decision No 112 of 2 November 2000, the Italian Interministerial Committee for Economic
Planning (CIPE) has finalised the Italian proposal for updating the TEN-T networks and has invited the
Italian ministries to negotiate with the EU on that basis. The Italian TEN-T review proposal includes, in the
part devoted to the road network maps, the (cid:145)Alemagna axis(cid:146). This axis, extending for a stretch of more
than 252 km, as the CIPE itself admits, is made up by the existing motorway A27 between Venice and Pian
di Vedoia, the section of National Road SS51 Alemagna from Pian di Vedoia to Dobbiaco, which is to be
enlarged, and, finally, the section of National Road SS49 and SS49bis from S. Candido to Fortezza, which
is to be enlarged as well. This route is to become, together with the Brenner axis and a section of Route
E70, part of a transport network system aiming to improve the corridor that links the North Atlantic area
with the Mediterranean harbours.

This project, endorsed by the Italian proposal, openly fails to comply with the Alps Convention and
particularly the Transport Agreement signed in Lucerne on 31 October 2000, which Italy also signed;
a project of this sort would entail further investment in road infrastructure and a heavier road traffic flow,
both of which are incompatible with the environment of the Dolomites, economic interests in connection
with tourism and the inhabitants(cid:146) quality of life.

Has the Commission any intention of supporting the development of the (cid:145)Alemagna axis(cid:146) transalpine
highway? Does the Commission not consider that such a development would undermine efforts to move
towards sustainable mobility in sensitive areas like the Alpine region?

What is the Commission going to do to prevent this road development from taking place and, instead, to
support investments to promote the shift towards other sustainable transport modes such as rail? Does the
Commission share the view that, instead of new highway routes, softer solutions in terms of road traffic
management should be supported (cid:129) for instance by improving the existing roads and bypassing towns
and villages (cid:129) if we want to reduce the conflict between road traffic and the existing human settlements in
the Alps?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2001)

The (cid:145)Alemagna(cid:146) road link consisting of the A27 and SS51 from Venice to Dobbiaco and the SS41 from
Fortezza to S. Candido is not part of the trans-European network identified in Decision No 1692/96/EC of
Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-
European transport network (1). Under the terms of the Decision, the plan to develop this link cannot be
considered a project of common interest and therefore it cannot receive financial support as part of the
trans-European network under Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down
general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (2).

The Commission is currently examining the amendments which will have to be made to the Decision to
take account of economic and technological developments in the transport sector, especially in rail
transport. The objective is to restore the balance between different modes of transport and develop
intermodality, which will be the key topic of the next White Paper on common transport policy.

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that it has already proposed
that the Community sign the Alps Convention transport protocol, the implementation of which would
limit the development of new high-capacity roads for trans-Alpine traffic.

C 350 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s view that it is particularly important to develop
intermodality and improve the management of traffic across the Alps. This is why it intends to carry on
giving sustained financial support to several rail and traffic management projects, notably projects 1 and 6
concerning the Mont-Cenis and Brenner tunnel crossings.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.
(2) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995.

(2001/C 350 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1364/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 May 2001)

Subject: Use of land for grazing horses

Can the Commission confirm whether there is any EU regulation concerning the use of farm land for
grazing horses? Is there any restriction on where horses used for recreation and those used for agricultural
purposes can be grazed?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2001)

There are no Community restrictions as such limiting the use of farm land for grazing horses, apart from
those connected with the conditions for granting area payments, and in particular that of not using set-
aside land.

The Commission has in the past received requests to allow racehorses to graze on land for which farmers
were receiving set-aside aid under Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing
a support system for producers of certain arable crops (1). These requests have been refused.

Such use of land withdrawn from production runs counter to the objective of making this scheme effective
in terms of maintaining balance in and outlets for Community cereal production.

Moreover, it would be difficult to justify the use of Community funds for such a measure.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 350 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1365/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(7 May 2001)

Subject: Cooperation agreement between the European Community and Pakistan

Reliable sources have long maintained that Pakistan is supporting the violently repressive, obscurantist
Taliban regime in Afghanistan, providing it with a huge amount of economic and military aid. That regime
has for some time been quite rightly criticised by all the EU Member States and the European Parliament
for a policy which shows total disregard for human rights. In a recent visit to the European Parliament in
Strasbourg, Commander Massoud, the courageous leader of the opposition to the regime in Afghanistan,
provided ample proof of Pakistan(cid:146)s involvement in Afghanistan(cid:146)s internal affairs.