WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/02 by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Interruption of the public service provided by international bus companies.
Date: 2002-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: bus, carriage of passengers, intra-EU transport, public service, transport document, transport regulations

C 172 E/194

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Nevertheless, given the disadvantages arising from payment of pensions by money order, the Commission
is prepared to intervene to ensure that the Belgian authorities take measures to allow pensions to be paid
into bank accounts in Italy.

(1) Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 of the Council of 21 March 1972 fixing the procedure for implementing Regulation
(EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving
within the Community, OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, as amended and updated by Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of
2 December 1996, OJ L 28, 30.1.1997.

(2002/C 172 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/02

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Interruption of the public service provided by international bus companies

On 25 January 2002, in Esslingen in Germany, the Esslingen road police carried out checks on a coach
belonging to the Simet s.p.a. company which was in service on the San Giovanni in Fiore to Hamburg line.

Following these checks, Simet was issued with a fine of EUR 525, on the grounds that it was not in
possession of the requisite documentation (certified copy of polymetric authorisation No 4, timetable
sheet, records of driving times and Community licence No 965) translated into German, even though the
documents were in order under the legislation in force in Italy.

The Simet coach was held from 9 a.m. until 3.45 p.m., seriously inconveniencing the passengers on board,
and it was ordered to return to Italy.

The Italian Ministry of Transport was asked to intervene, and informed its German counterpart that Simet
was fully authorised under the law to move freely. Despite the clarifications provided by the German
ministry, the police did not allow the coach to leave, but continued to request the authorisation in
German. In view of this, does the Commission not consider that these events are in breach of Regulation
684/92 (1) on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus?

(1) OJ L 74, 20.3.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

The incident referred to by the Honourable Member relates to the international carriage of passengers by
coach or bus, more specifically in the context of regular services.

Under Community legislation governing the operation of regular services, two documents must be carried
on the vehicle: the licence issued under Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 (1) on common rules for the
international carriage of passengers by coach and bus, and the Community licence issued under Regulation
(EC) No 11/98 (1).

Regulation (EC) No 2121/98 (2) stipulates that the text of the licence to operate regular services between
Member States should be worded in the official language(s) or one of the official languages of the carrier’s
Member State of establishment.

Regulation (EC) No 11/98 likewise stipulates that the text of the Community licence should be worded in
the official language(s) or one of the official languages of the Member State issuing the licence.

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/195

The case referred to by the Honourable Member involves a carrier established in Italy. Consequently, in
accordance with the Community rules concerning the licence to operate a regular service for the carriage
of passengers by coach and bus between Member States, on the one hand, and the Community licence, on
the other, these two documents should be drawn up in Italian.

In this particular instance,
constitutes a breach of Community law.

insistence that the licence should be drawn up in the German language

The Commission intends to demand an explanation from the German authorities.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92 of 16 March 1992 (OJ L 74, 20.3.1992), as amended by Council Regulation

(EC) No 11/98 of 11 December 1997 (OJ L 4, 8.1.1998).

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2121/98 of 2 October 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of
Council Regulations (EEC) No 684/92 and (EC) No 12/98 as regards documents for the carriage of passengers by
coach and bus (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998).

(2002/C 172 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0414/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Applicability in EU Member States of the Swiss campaign to protect babies against shaking

1.
Is the Commission aware that, in Switzerland, it has been found that stressed parents sometimes
shake crying babies without intending them any harm, but that because babies’ neck muscles are not yet
sufficiently developed, a quarter of them die and three quarters suffer irreversible harm?

Does the Commission have any comparable data for EU Member States, or can it obtain national

2.
data, indicating that a problem similar to that identified in Switzerland exists here?

Is the Commission aware of the national campaign ‘Schütteln Sie nie ein Baby’, which is now being

3.
carried out in Switzerland in response to publicity about the data referred to in question 1?

How does the Commission believe that it can help to draw similar attention to this problem and to

4.
prevent further harm to young children in the fifteen EU Member States?

Source: Radio 1 News, the Netherlands, 25 January 2002

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2002)

The Commission is aware of ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’, and of international studies concerning this

1.
topic and the Swiss report on the epidemiology of this problem.

2.
In the Community, there are no comparable incidence data. A study was made (Ludwig Bolttzmann
Institut für kinderchirurgische Forschung) of an Austrian hospital (’Sozial Medizinisches Zentrum’ (SMZ)
Ost, Vienna) where, retrospectively, medical records have been analysed. Of about 30 000 attendances to
the paediatric surgical outpatient clinic, 45 cases were due to child abuse and, out of them, two were
probably due to ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’. The Swiss report states: ‘Typically babies with an average age of
about five months are concerned.’

The relation of boys to girls amounts to 3:2. The actors are in 75 % of the cases men; in 50 % of the cases
the parents were responsible for the shaking, partners of the mother and babysitters for 17 %. According