WRITTEN QUESTION E-0515/02 by Paolo Costa (ELDR) to the Commission. Charging for the use of transport infrastructure.
Date: 2002-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: charges for use of infrastructure, drafting of EU law, exchange of information, proposal (EU), transport infrastructure

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/207

(2002/C 172 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0513/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Failure to comply with Directive 1999/22/EC by Valencia zoo

The author has recently received a number of complaints from members of the public concerning the
conditions in which animals are kept at Valencia zoo. Although the facilities have been granted the
necessary permits by the competent authorities, it is clear from a visit to the zoo that it is failing to
comply with the provisions of Directive 1999/22/EC (1) relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos,
Article 3, third indent, of which lays down the following requirement:

, Accommodating their animals under conditions which aim to satisfy the biological and
conservation requirements of the individual species,
inter alia, by providing species specific
enrichment of the enclosures; and maintaining a high standard of animal husbandry with a
developed programme of preventive and curative veterinary care and nutrition.

Has the Commission received confirmation from Spain that it has transposed Directive 1999/22/EC into
its national law?

What measures will the Commission take to ensure that this Directive is properly applied in the case of
Valencia zoo, so as to ensure the protection and welfare of the animals kept there?

(1) OJ L 94, 9.4.1999, p. 24.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2002)

The Commission has not yet been informed of the measures adopted by the Spanish authorities to
transpose Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 on the keeping of wild animals in zoos into
national law. It should be noted that under Article 9 of the Directive the deadline for transposition is
9 April 2002.

In any event, the Commission will ensure that Community law is observed in this case.

(2002/C 172 E/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0515/02

by Paolo Costa (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Charging for the use of transport infrastructure

On 18 January 2001 the European Parliament adopted a report on transport infrastructure charging
A5-0345/2000.

The conclusions of the Presidency of the Göteborg European Council of June 2001 say that ‘a sustainable
transport policy should tackle … the full internalisation of social and environmental costs’.

The Commission has also produced a White Paper (1), Part three, Chapter II. A of which is entitled
‘Towards gradual charging for the use of infrastructure’.

Paragraph 58 of the conclusions of the Presidency of the Laeken European Council of December 2001 says
that ‘the Commission will submit its framework proposal on charging for the use of infrastructure as soon
as possible’.

C 172 E/208

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Can the Commission say approximately when and how it will be submitting this framework proposal?

(1) COM(2001) 370.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2002)

The Commission is currently developing a methodology for charging for the use of transport infrastructure
which will apply to all modes of transport.

It will be examined with the assistance of experts and the Commission plans to consider a proposal for a
framework directive during the second half of 2002.

(2002/C 172 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0521/02

by Pernille Frahm (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Subject: Brominated flame retardants

Will the Commission ensure that the current risk assessments of TBBPA, the most commonly used
brominated flame retardant, and HBCD also cover how general users of PCs etc. are exposed to and are
affected by those chemicals?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

Brominated flame retardants are applied to consumer products to prevent fire from taking hold quickly.
They are found in very many plastic items, such as the casing of electronic and electrical goods, in foam
filled furniture, and on textiles.

The flame retardants hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are priority
substances pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and
control of the risks of existing substances (1). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is on the second list of
priority substances with Sweden designated as the Member State ‘rapporteur’ (Commission Regulation (EC)
No 2268/95 of 27 September 1995 (2)). A risk assessment report has been submitted and is currently
being discussed by Member State authorities, industry and other stakeholders. TBBPA is on the fourth
priority list with the United Kingdom designated as ‘rapporteur’ (Commission Regulation (EC) 2364/2000
of 25 October 2000 (3)). The United Kingdom competent authority has not yet submitted a risk assessment
report for this chemical.

A major use of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is as a flame retardant in textiles. The major uses of
tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and derivatives are in the electronics industry (mostly in printed circuit
boards) and in styrene polymers. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) accounts for about half of
the
consumption of all flame retardants.

The risk assessments of priority substances are carried out according to Commission Regulation (EC) No
1488/94 of 28 June 1994 laying down the principles for the assessment of risks to man and the
environment of existing substances in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 (4). This
includes an exposure assessment and a risk characterisation. The assessment of the exposure of consumers
identifies inter alia the usage of the substance in consumer products. The exposure assessment focuses on
those uses for which the highest exposure to consumers is expected to occur on a regular basis.