WRITTEN QUESTION E-1229/02 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Alpine Convention.
Date: 2002-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Alpine Region, EU environmental policy, EU regional policy, common transport policy, international convention, mountain region, ratification of an agreement, signature of an agreement, the EU's international role

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/91

(2002/C 301 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1149/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Alpine Convention (cid:1) Italy

At present, Italy holds the Presidency of the Alpine Convention (2000-2002). However, the Environment
Ministry in Rome responsible for the matter has to date been hesitant in launching new initiatives. What is
more, the entire Alpine Convention process has ground to a halt, and dates for further meetings have also
not yet been set.

As the European Union has signed the Alpine Convention and thereby committed itself to promoting a
comprehensive policy of protection and preservation of the Alps, can the Commission state what action it
proposes to take so that:

(cid:1) the Alpine Convention process continues,

(cid:1) the protocols which have already been signed are ratified before the end of 2002,

(cid:1) the corresponding political framework is created and funds are made available, and

(cid:1) the Transport Protocol, which has already been signed, is adhered to in full (Alemagna)?

(2002/C 301 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1229/02

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Subject: Alpine Convention

The Commission insists on non-participation in the work of the Alpine Convention, although it is difficult
to understand such an attitude to this instrument of international law.

Can the Commission state: the reasons for this non-participation; the date on which the EU’s accession to
the Convention was ratified; the Community’s position on each of its various protocols and the time-scales
for the past or future signing and future ratification of those protocols; and any obstacles which might
impede their ratification?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1148/02, E-1149/02 and E-1229/02
given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2002)

The Council adopted Decision 96/191/EC on the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the
Convention on the Protection of the Alps on 26 February 1996 (1). Three days later, the instrument of
ratification was deposited. Subsequently, on 29 May 1996 the Community became a Party to the Alpine
Convention.

The Community has signed, on 20 December 1994, the Protocols on town and country planning and
sustainable development, the Protocol on mountain farming, and the protocol on conservation of nature
and landscape.

As indicated in the reply to Oral Question H-0111/02 by Mrs Flemming during question time at
Parliament’s March 2002 session (2), the Commission wants to focus to the maximum its limited resources
on those areas in which its policies can bring added value.

C 301 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Therefore, the Commission does not intend to propose ratification of the above-mentioned Protocols. The
Commission does, however, believe it would be important for the Community to become a Party to the
Alpine Convention’s Transport Protocol. To this end, the Commission adopted on 16 January 2001 a
Proposal on the signature of the Transport Protocol (3), which is currently being considered by the Council.

As to the signature or ratification of the three other Protocols, the Commission does not intend to make
further proposals, this should however not be seen as a lack of interest in the promotion of sustainable
development in the Alpine region.

Indeed, the Commission stresses the interest it attaches to mountain regions. This interest is exemplified by
the fact that the Commission, in its second Report on Cohesion, recognised that mountain regions are
already at a disadvantage and have, as such, been included as one of ten priorities for the future of the
Community’s cohesion policy. Moreover, the Commission intends to launch a study on mountain areas.
The objectives of this study are to define mountain areas (zoning), to set up a database including different
kind of indicators,
in particular those linked to environment and hazards, and finally, to analyse the
situation of these regions in a sustainable development perspective. Other Community policies such as its
rural development and environment policy are also contributing to the sustainable development of
mountain regions including the Alpine region, and to the conservation of mountain eco-systems and
biodiversity.

As far as the ‘dorsale d’Allemagna’ is concerned, this road is not included in the list of trans-european
transport network projects identified by Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of
23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-european transport network (4).
However, the fact that the ‘dorsale d’Allemagna’ is not a trans-european transport project as such does not
prevent the Italian authorities to build this road as long as this is done in compliance with the relevant
Community legislation.

(1) OJ L 61, 12.3.1996.
(2) Written reply, 12.3.2002.
(3) COM(2001) 18 final.
(4) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2002/C 301 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1152/02

by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Exemption for nickel-cadmium batteries on electric vehicles within the provisions of Annex II to

Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles

Directive 2000/53/EC (1) on end-of-life vehicles stipulates that materials and components of vehicles put on
the market after 1 July 2003 must not contain lead, mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium other
than in cases listed in Annex II.

In a press release issued on 6 March 2002 the Commission announced its decision to propose prohibiting
cadmium batteries in electric vehicles as from the end of 2005. However, the proposed revision of Annex
II provides that, in order to ensure that electric vehicles continue to be available, the Commission must
analyse the possibility of substituting cadmium in the batteries of electric vehicles and publish its
conclusions by 31 December 2004, on which date a decision will be taken to extend the marketing of
nickel-cadmium batteries for electric vehicles. Will the Commission therefore explain why this press release
only partially reflects the decision taken and announces a ban which may be reconsidered in 2004 if no
alternative technologies are available?

Furthermore, while 21 categories of materials and components are listed in Annex II, the press release only
refers to the proposal on nickel-cadmium batteries. Will the Commission explain why it has not referred to
its proposals on the other categories?