WRITTEN QUESTION E-2122/01 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, Luxembourg, civil aviation, infringement procedure (EU), national implementing measure, report, transport accident

C 93 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

A Working Group, chaired by a Representative of the Board of Governors, has been established to ensure
the follow up of the renovation works in the European School in Uccle. In its role as a member of this
Working Group, the RdB gave its assurance that the removal of the asbestos would take place during the
summer 2001 school holidays and that all necessary measures would be taken in order to guarantee the
safety and health of pupils and staff.

According to the Head of the Uccle European School, removal of asbestos work was carried out as planned
during the recent summer holidays and the results of environmental air measurements taken in the Science
building, the Fabiola building, the Van Houtte building, the Château and the swimming pool show that
there is no presence of asbestos fibres. A inspection report, drawn up by an expert of GSB after these
works were completed, confirms these results.

(2002/C 93 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2122/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents

(13 July 2001)

Justice recently condemned Greece for its delay in transposing into Greek
The European Court of
legislation Community Directive 94/56/EC (1) establishing the fundamental principles governing the
investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents and rejected as inadequate the arguments put
forward by the Greek government.

In view of the judgment handed down by the European Court of Justice and the fact that the purpose of
the Directive in question is to improve air safety and to prevent accidents and incidents, will the
Commission say what progress has been made in implementing this Directive both in Greece and in the
other Member States?

(1) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 14.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

Council Directive 94/56/EC of 21 November 1994 establishing the fundamental principles governing the
investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents was adopted on 21 November 1994. Member States
were to notify the Commission of measures taken to comply with it by 21 November 1996 at the latest.

The Commission instituted infringement proceedings against Greece and Luxembourg for failure to
transpose the Directive, in which both of these Member States were found guilty.

Following the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Communities of 5 April 2001 that, by
failing to adopt and notify to the Commission within the prescribed period the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions necessary to transpose Directive 94/56/EC, Greece had failed to fulfil
its
obligations under the EC Treaty, the Greek Government has just communicated to the Commission the
text of law 2912/2001 published in the Official Journal of 9 May 2001, which transposes the Directive
into Greek law.

Luxembourg alone has not yet notified the Commission of its measures transposing Directive 94/56/EC.
Justice of 16 December 1999, Luxembourg has informed the
Since the judgment of
Commission of the state of progress in the procedure to adopt measures transposing the Directive.
According to this information, the Directive should be transposed before the end of this year.

the Court of

By that time, therefore, all of the Member States will have transposed and will be applying this Directive,
even if certain Member States occasionally fail to send the Commission investigation reports as the
Directive asks them to do.

The Commission will see to it that this legislation is applied correctly.