WRITTEN QUESTION E-2814/01 by Rijk van Dam (EDD) to the Commission. Working conditions of crews in inland shipping.
Date: 2001-10-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Germany, foreign national, inland waterway shipping, labour law, labour shortage, social dumping, social legislation, working conditions

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/197

(2002/C 93 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2812/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(10 October 2001)

Subject: Sun guns

Would the Commission outline the process by which European CE standard marks are awarded and clarify
which Directorate-General has ultimate responsibility for this process?

Would the Commission provide details of the number of stun weapon manufacturers which are currently
using the CE standard mark on their products?

What plans does the Commission have to prevent stun weapon manufacturers using CE standard marks in
order to promote the sale of stun weapons?

(2002/C 93 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2841/01

by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: CE mark on electro-shock stun-weapons and restraint equipment

Given concerns over the use of such weapons and the use of the CE mark to promote sales will the
Commission:

1.

2.

3.

clarify the process by which European CE standard marks are awarded and indicate the Commissioner
responsible;

explain to the European Parliament how many stun-weapon manufacturers are using the CE mark on
their products,

take action to prevent stun-weapons manufacturers from using CE marks to promote sales of their
products?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2812/01 and E-2841/01
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its answer to written question P-2783/01 by
Mr Ford (1).

(1) OJ C 81 E, 4.4.2002, p. 209.

(2002/C 93 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2814/01

by Rijk van Dam (EDD) to the Commission

(10 October 2001)

Subject: Working conditions of crews in inland shipping

Partly on account of manpower shortages on the labour market, inland shipping businesses are employing
crew members from outside the EU. However, there are indications that not all businesses are employing
them on acceptable terms by EU standards. Their failure to do so has serious consequences for other
businesses in the industry (distortion of competition), employees from the EU (social dumping) and safety
on and around inland waterways.

C 93 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Is the Commission aware of these phenomena and if so, what is their extent? Can the Commission

1.
give an overview of them?

Can the Commission provide an overview of the ‘loopholes’ in the relevant legislation of the Member

2.
States which make such practices possible?

3.
A Bavarian inland shipping company ? Meier ? makes large-scale use of employees from outside
the EU. Does it abide by the rules applicable in the Member State concerned regarding employment of
workers from outside the EU and are they employed on the customary terms and in accordance with the
social provisions in force?

4.
Does the Commission believe that introducing a driver attestation, such as has been proposed in the
case of road haulage (1), could help to prevent and solve the problems described here? If it does, will it take
steps to bring this about?

(1) Cf. the Van Dam report regarding a uniform driver attestation for the carriage of goods by road (PE 286 659;
COM(2000) 751). The attestation would certify that all social requirements applicable in the Member State of
establishment had been complied with in the case of the driver concerned. In the event of a check being performed
anywhere in the EU,
legislation had been
this would make it possible to ascertain whether or not social
contravened.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2001)

The Commission knows there is a certain shortage of manpower, in particular crew members, in the
inland shipping sector and that inland shipping businesses seek to employ personnel from outside the EU.

However, it has not so far received any complaints or requests from the sector or Member States for it to
intervene in the market because of social dumping.

It therefore does not have any information which would justify measures similar to those taken in the road
haulage sector along the lines of introducing driver attestation.

(2002/C 93 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2816/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 October 2001)

Subject: Political deal between the Netherlands and Belgium over the Ijzeren Rijn route

Developments with regard to the reopening of the Ijzeren Rijn line, and the diffuse decision-making on the
subject, have been causing many people concern. Officially, nothing has been decided, but according to a
press release of 21 September 2001 from the Netherlands Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the
transport ministers of the Netherlands and Belgium have reached a working agreement to adopt a decision
on the reopening of the Ijzeren Rijn line. On 15 October the two ministers are to sign a memorandum of
understanding.

impact of the
Meanwhile, a consultation procedure is still
proposed reopening of the line. Not only at local and regional, provincial level is there a sense of growing
astonishment: at national level too, people are asking why reasonable alternatives to the project are not
being considered. It seems as if a political deal has been done between the Netherlands and Belgian
Governments to ignore European and national rules and implement this project, using the old route which
passes straight through the De Meinweg and Weerter en Budeler Bergen nature areas. By revitalising the

in progress regarding the environmental