WRITTEN QUESTION P-2026/01 by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Suspension of Schengen Agreement.
Date: 2001-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Schengen Agreement, border control, derogation from EU law, public safety

C 350 E/236

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

The Commission feels that it is now time to re-examine the requirements, priorities and options for
Community action in the area of service safety. It plans to present a report on this matter to Parliament
and to the Council in 2003, accompanied, where necessary, by relevant proposals. The safety of services
provided by members of the liberal professions will be looked at in this context. However, it would be
premature at this stage to comment on whether Community action relating to compulsory civil liability
insurance for the liberal professions would be justified.

(2001/C 350 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2004/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Pesticides in Italian fruit and vegetables

(6 July 2001)

A survey conducted by Anpa-Arpa (the Italian national prevention and environment agency), in which
5 300 fruit and vegetable samples were analysed in 14 Italian regions, has revealed that the traces of
pesticides found in 4 fruits out of 10 (and 2 vegetables out of 10) exceed the legal limit values.

Given the serious risks to public health:

1. Does the Commission know about the findings of the survey?

2. What limits does European legislation lay down for pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables?

3. When the rules have been infringed, can the offenders be punished?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

1.
The Commission is aware of the results of the survey referred to but can find no grounds in the
results justifying the assertion in the question that 40 % of fruits and 20 % of vegetables exceed the
maximum residue limits for pesticides residues. The Commission is also aware of the recently published
results of the Italian national monitoring programme for 2000 for pesticides residues in fruits and
vegetables. The results are in line with those of previous years and with those reported by the other
Member States i.e. that about 60 % of samples contain no detectable residues, about 40 % of samples
contain detectable residues within the permissible limits and that about 2-3 % contain residues exceeding
the limits but not endangering health.

It is not practical to list the more than 20 000 Community maximum residue limits (MRLs) here. A
site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/ph_ps/pest/
listing is available on the Europa Internet

2.
full
index_en.htm).

The Member States are responsible for controlling compliance with the maximum residue limits in

3.
force and for taking appropriate action against transgressors.

(2001/C 350 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2026/01

by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Suspension of Schengen Agreement

(3 July 2001)

During the Gothenburg Summit,
the Schengen Agreement was suspended by the national police
commissioner and the V(cid:228)stra G(cid:246)taland county police commissioner. On what grounds and by whom
may the Schengen Agreement be suspended, and for what duration?

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/237

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2001)

Under Article 2(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (which has been incor-
porated into the Union framework), a Member State may decide, where public policy or national security
so require, and after consulting the other Member States, that internal border checks appropriate to the
situation are to be reinstated for a limited period.

If public policy or national security require immediate action, a Member State may take the necessary
measures and inform the other Member States thereof at the earliest opportunity.

The reinstatement of checks at internal borders is therefore an exceptional measure, which must be
proportionate to the situation confronting the Member State. It must also be limited to the duration of the
threat to public policy or national security. The final decision on reintroducing border checks rests with
the Member State concerned.

The above explanations reflect the Schengen acquis as it has been incorporated into the Union framework.
The acquis as a whole, which is intergovernmental in origin, will have to be replaced by appropriate legal
instruments under the first and third pillars.

In its work programme, the Commission announced its intention of presenting a legislative proposal
relating to Article 2 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement.

In the meantime, the Commission considers that it is entitled to receive notifications in the same manner
and at the same time as Member States applying the Schengen Agreement, by virtue of its role as guardian
of the Treaty. In this capacity it also takes part in the relevant consultations.

(2001/C 350 E/270)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2062/01

by Sir Robert Atkins (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2001)

Subject: Air traffic delays

Does the Commission recognise the anger and frustration felt by European air travellers about the
increasing delays caused by air traffic congestion and what urgent steps does it intend to take to resolve
these continuing and unacceptable problems?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member on the delays caused by air traffic
congestion. Air Traffic Management delays in the first five months of 2001 remain too high although
there has been a small drop in the total traffic compared with 2000.

The Commission put in place a High Level Group in early 2000 in order to develop improvements to the
current organisation of air traffic services. The High Level Group reported in November 2000 (1) and the
Commission is now preparing legislative proposals to follow up on that report. These proposals will set
out a common approach to the organisation of airspace and service provision and to the standardisation of
equipment.

The Commission hopes that these proposals will be favourably received by the Community legislator and
will have a significant impact on delays. It has welcomed the support contained in the Parliament(cid:146)s report,
drafted by the Honourable Member, on the creation of the Single Sky (2). The European Council has also