WRITTEN QUESTION P-2081/01 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Leader+ programme delay.
Date: 2001-07-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU initiative, Ireland, eligibility criteria, eligible region

C 364 E/240

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(2001/C 364 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2080/01

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Subject: Emissions inside motor vehicles

Increasingly I have been receiving complaints about harmful emissions inside motor vehicles, particularly
new vehicles. These emissions, caused by various synthetic materials and air conditioning systems, are said
to constitute a threat to health and affect drivers(cid:146) competence, thus causing accidents.

Is the Commission aware of this problem?

What is the Commission(cid:146)s assessment of the possible risks of emissions inside motor vehicles?

What steps is the Commission taking to prevent risks, e.g. by changing type-approval specifications?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2001)

The Commission is aware of concerns that the air quality within a vehicle may actually be poorer than
that found at the roadside but this is really due to the vehicle following directly in the exhaust emissions
left by the vehicles in front. This may be particularly the case in areas of dense traffic congestion at slow
vehicle speeds or when travelling through a long tunnel with very poor ventilation. More and more new
vehicles are equipped with air filtering systems to alleviate such a problem when the vehicle draws air in
from the outside through its cabin ventilation system. The Commission has no information that points to
the atmosphere within a vehicle as a specific cause of traffic accidents.

The Commission is not aware of any concerns that the air quality within a vehicle is due to emissions
from the materials the vehicle is constructed from or from air conditioning systems. At the time of type-
approval, the vehicle, having been run-in by driving at least 3,000 km, undergoes a test to measure the
evaporative emissions from a vehicle as a whole, not point sources of evaporative emissions. In this way,
emissions from new plastic materials, new paint and the fuelling system are assessed over a rigorous test
regime to ensure that the overall evaporative emissions are no more than 2 grammes per test (the test
requirements are given in Annex VI to Directive 98/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of
13 October 1998 relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles
and amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC (1)). However, at this time the test protocol does permit
a manufacturer to propose a test method that takes into account the loss of hydrocarbons by evaporation
coming only from the fuel system of the vehicle. The Commission has no data that shows how many type-
approval authorities have accepted an evaporative emissions test on the basis of the manufacturer(cid:146)s test
method.

(1) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998.

(2001/C 364 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2081/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Subject: Leader+ programme delay

Given the significant benefits that have accrued from previous Leader programmes in fostering partnership,
sustainable agricultural enterprises, local economic growth and social inclusion throughout Ireland and the

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/241

European Union; and given the current delay in the approval of the Leader+ operational programme
guidelines and the subsequent difficulties which this is causing to groups and companies on the ground in
Ireland; could the Commission explain the undue delay in the approval of the guidelines, and can it
confirm that it will approve the Leader+ programme guidelines in the very near future, before further jobs
are put in jeopardy?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission has tried, as far as possible, to avoid any lack of continuity in programming between the
1994-1999 period and the new 2000-2006 period. In the case of Leader, the Commission Notice to the
Member States setting out guidelines for the Leader+ Community Initiative was published in the Official
Journal on 18 May 2000 (1). Member States (and regions) were asked to submit their programmes under
Leader+ within six months from this date (i.e. by mid-November 2000). The Commission indicates within
the Leader+ guidelines that it will approve such programmes within five months of their receipt (but
respect of this timescale is clearly subject to a receipt of an admissible programme, and to satisfactory
progress in subsequent negotiations). The selection of beneficiaries (the Leader Local Action Groups
(LAGs)) should take place within a maximum two-year period from the date of approval of programmes.

It is understood that the Irish authorities provided funding to maintain group capacities in the interim
the selection of LAGs (to be undertaken by the competent national
period. That said, given that
authorities) must be by open and competitive procedures, in order to ensure the selection of the highest
quality LAGs, there should be no assumption that LAGs which received financing under Leader II will
(cid:145)automatically(cid:146) be re-selected under Leader+. This decision should depend upon the quality of their bids
alongside competing applications.

Turning to the specific example of the Irish Leader+ programme, the programme has been submitted to
the Commission on 15 November 2000 and has just been approved on 3 July 2001. This approval took
place after a complex negotiation procedure. The initial proposal submitted by the Irish authorities has
been completed and amended, and this required a considerable effort from both parties. The scope for
selection of LAGs will be large enough. It will to a large extent depend on the specific timetable and
selection procedures envisaged by the Irish authorities, whom the Commission suggests to contact direct
for further details on these matters.

(1) OJ C 139, 18.5.2000.

(2001/C 364 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2086/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission

(5 July 2001)

Subject: Simplification of CAP administration

Could the Commission provide an update on the present situation regarding the simplification of CAP
procedures following the decision to simplify direct aid payments, and does it have any plans to extend
this scheme on a wider basis?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Following the adoption by the Council, on 19 June 2001, of the Commission(cid:146)s proposal (1) to simplify
payments of small amounts to farmers, work has begun on the preparation of the necessary detailed
implementing rules. A first meeting on these rules was held between the Commission and representatives
of the Member States(cid:146) administrations on 3 July 2001, and further meetings are planned.