WRITTEN QUESTION E-2612/01 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. The EU institutions' own energy policy.
Date: 2001-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU institution, energy consumption, energy saving, environmental standard, public awareness campaign, two-wheeled vehicle, vehicle fleet

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/135

(2002/C 115 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2612/01

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(27 September 2001)

Subject: The EU institutions’ own energy policy

Given the advances being made in energy-saving and renewable energy technologies, I am receiving
increasing numbers of queries regarding the EU institutions’ own energy policy.

1.
How many vehicles do the individual EU institutions use? Is fuel consumption one of the selection
criteria when they purchase vehicles? What are the energy consumption and CO2 balances for these
vehicles?

2.
If low-viscosity engine oils and fuel-saving tyres are used, savings of up to 5 % can be achieved,
especially on long-distance trips. Are such factors already taken into account in relation to the institutions’
vehicles? If not, does the Commission plan to introduce the use of low-viscosity engine oils and fuel-saving
tyres for such vehicles?

Courses on fuel saving are run for professional drivers. Do the EU institutions’ drivers ever attend

3.
such courses?

The use of biomass, solar thermal energy and fuel cells could make a considerable contribution to

4.
improving the CO2 balance. How much use do the EU institutions make of such technologies?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2001)

On questions relating to the vehicle fleet of the other Institutions the Honourable Member is advised to
contact those Institutions directly.

1.
As at 1 January 2001 the Commission’s service vehicle fleet in Brussels numbered 105, including 2
trucks, 2 buses and 15 vans for mail transport. The average consumption of current vehicles is 15 liters
per 100 kilometers.

Vehicle selection is based on new price/quality ratios and vehicles correspond to the most recent standards
on emissions (EURO 3 and 4) as well as best practice on fuel consumption.

The tyres of Commission vehicles are changed every six months (depending on the season); this
2.
measure substantially reduces fuel consumption. Vehicles that are purchased are equipped with fuel-saving
tyres.

The Commission’s drivers receive regular and systematic professional driver training at an approved

3.
driving school, which includes a specific module on economically efficient driving.

4.
In the context of its Green Housekeeping policy the Commission encourages recourse to alternative
methods of transport (provision of service bicycles, promotion of bicycle use by adapting Commission car-
parks, an agreement with the Brussels public transport authorities (STIB) for a route between Commission
buildings and Zaventem national airport, purchase of electric vehicles intended for mainly urban use etc.).

5.
To date, the Commission fleet does not include vehicles run on biomass, solar thermal energy or fuel
cells. The Honourable Member will be aware that these technologies imply considerably higher surveillance
and maintenance cost. Moreover, at least as far as Belgium is concerned, climatic conditions are not
favourable for the use of solar thermal energy. However, the Commission has,
for the purpose of
movements between offices and other premises in Brussels, purchased four electric powered zero-emission
vehicles and is planning to purchase another two.