WRITTEN QUESTION E-1660/02 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission. Mandatory EU accessibility standards for the built environment.
Date: 2002-06-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, facilities for people with disabilities, operation of the Institutions

C 301 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Since these plants also export electricity to the EU (Greece) and in view of the requirement that the Union’s
policies should take account of the environment, and that public health, environmental protection and
clean energy are priority issues, will the Commission say:

1. Whether it is aware of the above information? What measurements have been taken recently and what
data is available concerning emissions of pollutant substances in the border region between Greece
and FYROM?

2.

Is it true that emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) from electricity generating plants in the town of
Bitola in FYROM are far in excess of the levels applicable in the European Union and that such
hazardous concentrations find their way into Greece via the atmosphere?

3. What measures does the Commission intend to take to stop pollution in the region and what
measures is FYROM required to take to prevent cross-border pollution pursuant, in particular, to the
EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement with FYROM, which entered into force on 1 June 2001?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the claims referred to in the question and does not measure pollution
levels in third countries.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement
is awaiting ratification but will not place any specific
obligation on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding air pollution. It does,
however, identify ‘combating local, regional and cross-border pollution (air, water quality, including waste
water treatment and drinking water pollution) and establishing effective monitoring’ as an area for
potential co-operation. Through its financial assistance the Commission intends to favour the development
of the country’s institutional capacity and the progressive alignment of its legislation in the field of
environment to the Community ‘acquis’. A total of EUR 4 million have been allocated for this purpose in
the Multi-annual Indicative Programme for FYROM for the years 2003 and 2004. The Commission is also
seeking to enhance the capacity of FYROM in environmental monitoring through support for participation
in the activities of the European Environment Agency.

(2002/C 301 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1660/02

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(11 June 2002)

Subject: Mandatory EU accessibility standards for the built environment

In the European Commission communication ‘Towards a barrier-free Europe for people with disabilities’ (1),
the European Commission made a commitment to consult with industry and disabled users to identify
areas where it would be appropriate to introduce EU mandatory accessibility standards to the built
environment.

Will the European Commission inform the European Parliament when it will be establishing a working
group on the built environment which was expected in mid-2002?

Does the European Commission not consider that this work should be coordinated by the Construction
Unit of DG Enterprise working in close cooperation with the Disability Unit of DG Employment and Social
Affairs and the stakeholders concerned, including representative disability organisations and industry?

(1) COM(2000) 284.

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/207

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2002)

the follow-up to its Communication ‘Towards a barrier-free Europe for people with
As part of
disabilities’ (1), the Commission can confirm that it plans to set up a working group to identify appropriate
initiatives to improve access to the built environment for people with disabilities. The composition and
working methods of this group are still under discussion. However, the group’s work should begin this
year so that it can be completed during the European Year of People with Disabilities, in 2003. Parliament
will of course be kept informed of the progress of this work.

The relevant Commission departments will be taking part in this working group. Representatives of
associations of disabled people, the relevant industry sectors and experts concerned with this issue will also
be closely involved in this review.

(1) COM(2000) 284 final.

(2002/C 301 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1666/02

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: Ban on concluding public contracts with media companies

A new law adopted by the Greek Parliament prohibits the conclusion of public contracts with natural or
legal persons who are primary shareholders in media companies. The same law defines a primary
shareholder as anyone holding as little as 5 % of the total share capital of a media company.

Given the difficulty of identifying ‘primary shareholders’ at both Community and international level, will
the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether the new law is consistent with Community law and to what extent it infringes the principle
of equality as a general principle of law in view of the fact that it will not be possible to scrutinise
either companies with registered offices in a Member State or off-shore companies as opposed to
domestic companies,

(cid:1) whether the Member States are required to cooperate with the corresponding national authorities in
identifying primary shareholders (provide information, carry out inquiries, etc), especially when no
corresponding scrutiny is provided for in their national legislation,

(cid:1) whether any delay in carrying out checks on Community companies constitutes an infringement of
the principle of equality and discrimination against them in relation to domestic companies, and to
what extent it is practicable and legally valid to preclude Community companies from concluding
public contracts if it is impossible to scrutinise them effectively?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2002)

The Commission does not have a copy of the text of the Greek law referred to by the Honourable
Member, given that the law in question has just been adopted by the Greek Parliament. The Commission
is, therefore, unable to comment on this matter at this time, but does intend to inform the Honourable
Member of its conclusions once it has conducted the necessary investigations into the problem raised.