WRITTEN QUESTION E-3207/01 by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission. Creation of a single European sky.
Date: 2001-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Eurocontrol, Europe, European Commission, air space, air traffic, civil aviation, drafting of EU law, sport

C 147 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2002)

Spain has recently approved a national plan for water resources in law 10/2001 of 5 July 2001. The main
objectives of this national plan are to consolidate the existing river-basin approach and to reallocate
surface water resources within Spain to areas that are already facing, or that will face in the future, severe
water shortage.

The question from the Honourable Members refers to the compatibility of the Spanish plan with the Water
Framework Directive and in particular those parts of the Directive relating to pricing. First of all it must be
underlined that the Member States are not required to transpose the Directive until December 2003.
Secondly, the provisions of the Directive as they relate to the development of an equitable pricing policy
(see below) do not become binding until 2010. Therefore, given that the Spanish authorities have several
years in which to develop their approach it would be premature, at this stage, for the Commission to
comment on this issue. The Honourable Members should be assured that the Commission will work very
closely with all the Member States to promote a coherent and consistent approach to the implementation
of all aspects of the Directive, including the pricing question.

For the record, the Water Framework Directive includes specific provisions on water charging, incentive
pricing and cost-recovery. Its Article 9 specifies that: ‘Member States shall take account of the principle of
recovery of the costs of water services, including environmental and resource costs, having regards to the
economic analysis conducted according to Annex III, and in accordance in particular with the polluter pays
principle’.

The same article also put obligations on Member States to ensure by 2010 that water-pricing policies
provide adequate incentives to efficient water use and ensure a fair contribution of water uses
(desegregated into at least industry, households and agriculture) to the recovery of the costs of water
services. In deciding levels of cost recovery, social, economic and environmental effects of the recovery as
well as the geographic and climatic conditions of the region affected may be considered.

(2002/C 147 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3207/01

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Creation of a single European sky

In its recent Communication on creating a single European sky, the Commission puts forward proposals
designed to create a regulatory framework for the entire EU, whilst giving Eurocontrol responsibility for
operational matters and the provision of miscellaneous services.

This division of tasks, although justifiable in itself, may create a problem for the representatives of general
and light aviation who, on behalf of tens of thousands of private pilots, have always in the past had the
opportunity to discuss any proposed changes to the rules by means of a consultation mechanism within
Eurocontrol.

The Commission proposal also refers to ‘consultations’ with users of the single European sky. Would it not
be advisable to set up a formal consultation scheme involving representatives of general and light aviation?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2002)

On 10 October 2001 the Commission presented a package of proposals on the creation of the Single
European Sky (1) intended to set up a decision-making and regulatory framework which was more in line
with the constraints of air traffic in Europe.

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/131

As far as institutions are concerned, the Single European Sky is based on the complementary relationship
between the Union’s regulatory powers and the competence and expertise which exist within Eurocontrol
and the Member States. More precisely, the Eurocontrol agency will be entrusted by the Commission with
the technical expertise work needed to draw up Community rules.

In the face of lack of harmonisation in the classification of European airspace, the proposals aim to
consider European airspace as a common resource which must be effectively organised and managed, in
complete safety, in order to meet the requirements of users and to permit a fair and non-discriminatory
distribution of resources among all users, including general and light aviation.

The Commission is currently holding talks with Eurocontrol to define the procedures for cooperation
between the organisations. This cooperation will also involve Eurocontrol
in observing certain
requirements with regard to the consultation of interested parties. The Commission will ensure that these
consultation mechanisms permit
the associations
the taking into consideration of
concerned.

the viewpoint of

In this way, the representatives of general and light aviation will continue to have an important role in this
consultation process.

(1) COM(2001) 123 final.

(2002/C 147 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3208/01

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) and Elizabeth Montfort (NI) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Right to life

At the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) congress held in Rome, the former
president of FIGO, the Finn Markku Seppälä, said that ‘life begins at conception’.

In the light of this statement, does the Commission intend to submit a proposal for a directive seeking to
ensure that the national laws of the Member States show due respect for the principle of the right to life?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

The European Union has no legislative powers in the matter and the Commission is accordingly not
planning to propose a directive.

(2002/C 147 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3209/01

by Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE) and Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Island of Santo Stefano

(22 November 2001)

Santo Stefano, which forms part of the municipality of Ventotene, is one of the islands in the Ponziano
archipelago in the province of Latina in Italy. Past inmates of the prison which stands on the island (and
which was closed in the 1960s) include a number of leading political figures, such as Altiero Spinelli, who
in 1941, together with others, drafted the ‘Ventotene Manifesto’, which was to lay the foundations for
today’s European Union. The part of the island on which the prison stands belongs to the Italian State, and
is to be placed on the market along with a large number of other sites. Its market valuation has been set at
€ 2 million.