WRITTEN QUESTION E-0852/02 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission. Blind spot mirrors.
Date: 2002-03-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Netherlands, approximation of laws, commercial vehicle, drafting of EU law, safety device, vehicle parts

C 277 E/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

A passenger who buys an airline ticket and travels from Dublin to London Heathrow and from London
Heathrow to Belgrade before returning from Belgrade to London Heathrow and then flying from London
Heathrow to Amsterdam will find that, as a result of the current system of airport taxes, each ticket
included an additional cost of GBP 27,50. In other words, the tax is paid three times by the same
passenger for what is essentially a round trip.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2002)

Airport taxes have to be distinguished from airport charges. The latter, such as passenger charges and
landing charges are a source of revenue for the airport and are meant to cover the costs for the airport
operations.

Airport or environmental taxes on the other hand, are imposed by the national authorities and do not
represent revenue for the airport but are ususally collected by the airport on behalf of the Treasury. As a
result, the level of such taxes and the conditions on the basis of which these taxes have to be paid are part
of the taxation policy of each Member State. However, such tax provisions have to comply with the
general principles of the EC Treaty concerning the freedom to provide services and in particular the
principles of non-discrimination and proportionality.

The Commission wishes to add here that generally, when an airline ticket consists of a number of coupons
(as it is the case for a trip like Dublin - London - Belgrade - London - Amsterdam), each coupon
mentions the same amount of airport taxes and charges, which represent the taxes and charges to be paid
for the entire journey and not for each leg of the trip. It is likely therefore, that the taxes and charges
reported by the Honourable Member of GBP 27,50 were due for the entire journey and not for each flight.

(2002/C 277 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0852/02

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Blind spot mirrors

Has the Commission noted the Dutch Government’s intention, because of the large number of

1.
accidents, to make blind spot mirrors mandatory on goods vehicles before the end of the year?

Is the Commission prepared to accept that, in doing so, the Netherlands is going beyond the relevant

2.
European rules, which make this mandatory for new goods vehicles only?

Is the Commission willing to consider extending the European rules to all goods vehicles on the basis

3.
of the Netherlands’ experience?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

The Commission has indeed noted the Dutch Government’s intention to make blind spot mirrors

1.
mandatory on goods vehicles before the end of 2002.

2.
The Commission has very recently submitted a proposal for a Directive of the Parliament and of the
Council (1) which will introduce mandatory harmonised requirements for the type-approval of mirrors and
systems for indirect vision for motor vehicles of categories M (vehicles for the carriage of passengers) and
N (vehicles for the carriage of goods). This proposed Directive is already being examined by the Parliament
in first reading and by the Council working party on motor vehicles. If adopted, it will amend Council

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/97

Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating
to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (2) and will make it mandatory for all categories of
vehicles instead of being voluntary within the type-approval system for light and heavy duty commercial
vehicles. The Commission welcomes the initiative taken by the Netherlands to go even further and to
introduce these mandatory harmonised requirements also for existing goods vehicles.

3.
The Commission will indeed investigate the costs and benefits of equipping existing goods vehicles
with such mirrors and vision enhancement systems and will, if justified, propose corresponding European
legislation.

(1) COM(2001) 811 final.
(2) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970 as last amended OJ L 232, 23.8.1997.

(2002/C 277 E/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0856/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Murders committed by Ariel Sharon’s troops in Palestinian refugee camps

It is clear that the end of the conflict between Israel and Palestine can come about only through the mutual
recognition of both states and that, in the meantime, all violence must cease. A particularly cruel form of
violence - which can be compared to that suffered by Jews in Europe 60 years ago - is being practised
by Ariel Sharon’s troops, who have again murdered 22 people in a Palestinian refugee camp, as well as
holding thousands of Palestinians in disgraceful conditions.

What effective measures will the Council take in the face of these acts, which arouse feelings of horror and
shame in all right-minded people?

(2002/C 277 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0859/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Ariel Sharon’s murders in Ramallah

On 12 March, after two murders had been committed in Bethlehem, Ariel Sharon’s troops murdered 25
Palestinians in Ramallah.

How long is the European Union going to wait before taking a firm and final stance against this head of
government, as a necessary step in order to secure peace between the State of Israel and a Palestine which
has been recognised as a State?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0856/02 and E-0859/02

(22 July 2002)

The Council will not comment on the specific allegation referred to by the Honourable Member of the
European Parliament about which it does not have all the necessary facts. In its declaration on behalf of
the European Union of 20 April 2002, the Presidency stressed the importance of the initiative taken by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to obtain detailed information on the events that took place in the
Jenin refugee camp. Furthermore, the European Union has urgently called for medical and humanitarian
organisations to have immediate access to the Palestinian population as called for in the UN Security
Council Resolution 1405 of 19 April 2002, which stated its concern at the ‘dire humanitarian situation’ of
that population.