WRITTEN QUESTION E-1955/01 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission. Excise duty on alcoholic beverages.
Date: 2001-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to EU information, alcoholic beverage, competition, excise duty

C 40 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

(2002/C 40 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1952/01

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m(cid:146)s position on the Alpine Convention

(3 July 2001)

What is the position of the EU(cid:146)s Commissioner responsible for environmental matters on the subject of the
Alpine Convention?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1951/01 and E-1952/01
given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The Commission recognises the importance of the role the Alpine Convention can play in the promotion
of sustainable development
in the Alpine region. The Alpine Convention is in fact an important
instrument aimed at protecting the alpine ecosystem and ensuring the integration of
international
environmental and social concerns in a number of different sectors of economic life.

The Commission understands the concern of
to the lack of
participation of the Commission at the last meetings of the Standing Committee and at the Ministerial
Meeting in October 2000. However, resource constraints currently prevent
the Commission from
considering active involvement in the work of the Alpine Convention a priority.

the Honourable Member with respect

This has to be seen together with the fact that the subsidiarity principle plays a major role as far as the
implementation of the Alpine Convention and its Protocols is concerned. In fact, in a regional context,
action by national and local governments can be more effective than action at Community level.
Furthermore, a number of Protocols to the Alpine Convention cover areas where Community competence
is limited, in particular those of tourism, soil protection and mountain forests.

By no means however should this be interpreted as a lack of interest in or appreciation of the work being
done under the Alpine Convention. It should be underlined that the objectives to which the Community is
committed as a Contracting Party to this Convention are being fulfilled in the different areas covered by
the Convention through Community action and legislation, such as the Habitats and Birds Directives, the
Natura 2000 network, as well as the 6th Environmental Action Programme.

The submission, on 16 January 2001, of a proposal on the signature of the Transport Protocol to the
Council (1) is also a sign of the interest the Commission maintains with respect to the Alpine Convention.

(1) COM(2001) 18 final.

(2002/C 40 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1955/01

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(3 July 2001)

Subject: Excise duty on alcoholic beverages

When will the recently finalised study on competition between different types of alcoholic beverages
undertaken on behalf of the Commission by a private consultant be available for examination?

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/149

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2001)

The recently finalised study undertaken on behalf of the Commission by a private consultant on the
competition between different types of alcoholic beverages is now available. The executive summary of the
study and the reference to order the complete study on CD-Rom can be found on the web-site of the
Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, located at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/
comm/taxation_customs/index_en.htm.

A copy of the CD-Rom has been sent to the office of the Honourable Member.

(2002/C 40 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1957/01

by J(cid:252)rgen Zimmerling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2001)

Subject: Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences

The reorganisation of driving licence categories has led to problems in Germany, especially where
emergency and rescue services and fire brigades are concerned.

Members of volunteer fire brigades, for example, are in the main no longer allowed to drive their fire-
engines on account of the new driving licence categories. It is therefore impossible to guarantee that
qualified drivers will be available all day in case of emergency. The class 3 driving licence previously valid
in Germany (for private cars) also entitled its holders to drive vehicles weighing more than 3,5 t
(operations vehicles). However, those who obtain a new driving licence under EU rules will for the most
part be issued with a category B licence (valid for private cars but not for vehicles over 3,5 t).

To obtain the new C1 licence, which entitles holders to drive vehicles over 3,5 t, it would be necessary to
take a further test, which most young members of relief organisations could not afford to do.

Does the Commission realise that, unless exceptions are made for them, volunteer fire brigades may not be
able to operate in emergencies, entailing a potential danger to life and property?

Will the Commission make exceptions to Directive 91/439/EEC (1) so as to alleviate the manning problems
which the Directive has caused for volunteer fire brigades? Alternatively, could the Member States treat
rescue vehicles as special vehicles within the meaning of Article 3(6) and hence exclude them from the
classification set out in Article 3?

(1) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

Article 3 of Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences (1) sets out the categories of
driving licences authorising the driving of certain vehicles. No exemption is provided for driving fire
service vehicles. Licence categories are based on vehicle weight and size criteria. Driving a large and heavy
fire engine calls for specific abilities, and emergency situations require above-average driving skills.

The drivers of emergency vehicles, even in voluntary fire brigades, have to be licensed to use these vehicles
for obvious road safety reasons. Obtaining such licences is entirely within the reach of voluntary fire
brigade members.