WRITTEN QUESTION P-2665/01 by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Air transport safety.
Date: 2001-09-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air space, air transport, approximation of laws, competence of the Member States, drafting of EU law, terrorism, transport safety

C 93 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

The Third Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, which should be presented at the beginning of 2004,
will provide an occasion to look at the statutory improvements which need to be made to the operation of
the Structural Funds in the 2007-13 programming period. Between now and 2004, the Commission, in
liaison with national experts, the regions, associations, etc., will continue to reflect in detail on a number
of topics concerning the future of cohesion policy. This will include a review of the system for managing
the Funds with a view to its simplification.

(1) COM(2001) 378 final.
(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 438/2001 (OJ L 63, 3.3.2001).
(4) Commission Regulation (EC) No 448/2001 (OJ L 64, 6.3.2001).

(2002/C 93 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2665/01

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: Air transport safety

The recent terrorist attacks in the United States, which are likely to have repercussions in Europe, are a
reminder of the urgent need to deal with the issue of air safety.

This is an extremely complex issue, particularly in view of the fact that the European Union only has very
limited jurisdiction in this area (luggage checks are one of the few aspects under its responsibility). Air
safety mostly comes under the responsibility of the Member States.

In view of the above:

1. Does the Commission intend to prepare a ‘catalogue’ of specific measures which could serve as a

starting point for the Member States?

2. Does it intend to speed up the project to set up a single air traffic control system in Europe, which

would make integrated management of its airspace possible?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 2001)

It is true that to date responsibility for aviation security has been mainly vested in the National Authorities
and regulated in conformity with international standards, requirements and recommended best practices,
even if some aspects of Community law address that question indirectly. The events of 11 September 2001
show that Member States now all face the same terrorist threat and must therefore formulate a collective
response based on common preventative measures.

The Commission on 10 October 2001 proposed the adoption and enforcement of common Community
security rules for civil aviation by means of a Parliament and Council Regulation (1). The incorporation of
these rules into Community law will enable them to be applied in an effective manner and this process will
be subject to continuous control.

The common rules will cover:

> control of access to sensitive areas of airports and aircraft;

> control of passengers and their hand luggage;

> control and monitoring of hold luggage;

> control of cargo and mail;

> training of ground staff;

> definition of specifications for the equipment for the above controls;

> classification of weapons and others items which it is prohibited to bring on to aircraft or into the

sensitive areas of airports;

18.4.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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and will aim at increased control of both international and domestic flights.

In view of the degree of technical detail of the standards to be implemented, the Commission proposes to
be given the appropriate executive powers to adopt the necessary implementing measures. Such measures
will be implemented gradually in a realistic manner to take account of the time needed to train personnel
and alter infrastructure. In the event of a more specific threat, Member States will be able to adopt special
measures. For its part, the Commission intends to ensure that the Community measures are able to evolve
in line with the nature of any threat.

Furthermore, as requested by the Heads of State and Government, a mechanism for controlling the
application of these rules is currently being set up. In its Regulation, the Commission proposes that in
future the mechanism should be based on the establishment of a quality control system to be implemented
by a national authority designated by the Member States. The systems set up by the national authorities
will themselves be monitored by trained multinational teams of inspectors backed up by a light inspection
body set up within the Commission.

The Commission also adopted on the same day a package of measures on the single sky which include,
interalia, a proposal for a Regulation dealing with the integrated management of the European airspace (2).

(1) COM(2001) 575 final.
(2) COM(2001) 564 final.

(2002/C 93 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2670/01

by Ioannis Averoff (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 October 2001)

Subject: Aid for the restructuring and conversion of vineyards in Greece

Under the new Council Regulation on the common organisation of the market in wine (Regulation (EC)
1493/1999 (1) of 17 May 1999) the Member States are entitled to annual financial subsidies to restructure
and convert vineyards. However, Greece has not received any financial aid for the 2000/2001 period.

1. Why has Greece not received any aid for the 2000/2001 period? Can it confirm that the reason is
the delay in the drawing-up of a scheme and the inventory of the production potential? Are the
Commission services acquainted with the reasons for this delay?

Does the Commission consider that the scheme put forward by Greece and the declared inventory
in the

2.
will ensure an effective restructuring of vineyards in Greece and allow an improvement
competitiveness of Greek viticulture?

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2001)

Commission Decision 2000/503/EC of 25 July 2000 fixing an indicative financial allocation, in respect of
a number of hectares, by Member State for restructuring and conversion of vineyards under Council
Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 for the 2000/01 marketing year (1), allotted Greece €8 280 000 for a
minimum of 1 162 ha. This was in line with Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of
17 May 1999 on common organisation of the market in wine (2).

The inventory of viticultural production potential, presentation of which is a prerequisite for access to
Community funds, was sent by the Greek Government to the Commission by a letter of 25 June 2001.
The Commission took the appropriate decision on 18 July 2001.

It is this situation that was the reason for non-utilisation by 30 June 2001 of the Community funds made
available to Greece by the Commission. Nor did she make use of the provision in the detailed rules
(Commission Regulation (EC) No 1227/2000 of 31 May 2000 laying down detailed rules for the