WRITTEN QUESTION E-3056/01 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission. Guaranteed access by air transport for the outermost islands and regions during the current crisis in international aviation.
Date: 2001-11-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air transport, airline, economic independence, economic recession, international transport, island, peripheral region, public service

C 134 E/188

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3049/01 and E-3050/01
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

The Commission would like to emphasise that such a complex question as the functioning of a system of
adequate controls and supervision, which the Member States must implement in accordance with Article
4(2) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage
improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (1), cannot be resolved without full and detailed
information concerning the alleged problems in the operation of the Greek system of controls and
supervision.

The Commission therefore wrote to the Greek Government asking for information concerning the
implementation of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. The
Greek Government provided some information in response, but further information is needed to enable
the Commission to check the functioning of the Greek authorities’ system of controls and supervision.
A second letter explaining this was sent to the Greek Government on 2 August 2001. The information
requested included statistics on the number of legal proceedings in the area of health and safety at work
and the penalties imposed, further information on the working methods of the labour inspectorate (for
example how the companies to be inspected are selected, how the inspections are carried out, whether
there is a follow-up system relating to inspections and measures taken following the inspections, etc.) and
a detailed description of internal controls within the labour inspectorate. The Honourable Member’s
questions concerning the charges brought against the undertakings and the penalties imposed are included
in the information requested by the Commission in this letter to the Greek authorities.

A reply dated 9 November 2001 was received, which the Commission is currently analysing. The
Commission will ensure that the appropriate measures are taken in accordance with the results of this
analysis.

The complainant has been informed of the developments in this matter by letter dated 1 August 2001, to
which the Honourable Member refers. This letter also invited the complainant to pass on any further
information available.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.

(2002/C 134 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3056/01

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Guaranteed access by air transport for the outermost islands and regions during the current crisis

in international aviation

Following the impact on civil aviation of
the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on
11 September and in the context of the current crisis in international air transport, a number of airlines
are exploiting the situation in order to cancel flights, reduce staff numbers and increase fares, for example
Iberia in Spain. How does the Commission envisage guaranteeing that the outermost islands and regions of
the European Union remain accessible by air, in view of their social and geographical situation and their
specific dependence on air transport and in the interests of maintaining economic and social cohesion?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2001)

It is the responsibility of the Member States to ensure that adequate services, for example in terms of
quality and/or price and/or frequency, are offered to those living in the outermost areas of the European
Union.

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/189

According to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air
carriers to intra-Community air routes (1), Member States may impose public service obligations, under
certain conditions, on given air routes. Where public service obligations have been imposed but, as a result
of free market forces, no service is operating, the authorities of the Member States can, by using an
invitation to tender, restrict access on a public service obligation route to a single carrier and grant this
carrier financial compensation, if necessary.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.

(2002/C 134 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3065/01

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Council

(8 November 2001)

Subject: Involvement of the Belgian Foreign Minister in a case of corruption

According to a press report, the Belgian Foreign Minister has been accused of having covered up a case of
corruption. According to the report, a female embassy official noticed that visas for EU Member States
were being sold. After she had reported this breach of regulations, the Ambassador was promoted to the
post of Representative of the Belgian Foreign Ministry. When the hideout of a Russian Mafia gang was
raided in Paris, the police found Belgian ‘red cards’. When legal proceedings were instituted in Belgium, the
only person prosecuted was a minor official. Those genuinely responsible were not punished. Nor was
there any parliamentary investigation into the case.

Therefore I ask the Council:

1.

2.

Is there any truth in the press report?

If so, what measures can be taken so that,
undermining the entire system?

in the future, such activities may be prevented from

Reply

(14 February 2002)

The Council is not aware of the press report to which the Honourable Member refers. In any event, the
Council is not in the habit of commenting on the content of press articles.

(2002/C 134 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3066/01

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Council

(25 October 2001)

Subject: Denial of compensation from Germany for former Italian military and civilian internees

In a surprising and significant decision, a German foundation (‘Remembrance, Responsibility and the
Future’) directly representing the German government and industry has ruled that Italian Military Internees
(IMI), as well as many civilian forced labourers, are not entitled to the compensation provided for former
internees.

This decision is unjustified from a legal standpoint and is already the subject of an appeal by associations
representing former internees and forced labourers in Germany, who have thus been compelled to meet
further substantial legal costs, in addition to those already sustained in submitting their applications and
the necessary documentation.