WRITTEN QUESTION E-1689/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Air traffic control and weather forecasting.
Date: 2002-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air traffic, air traffic control, air transport, civil aviation, meteorology, organisation of work, transport safety

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/237

In other Member States as Denmark, Sweden and Finland lead pipes in the supply of drinking water have
never been used.

With regard to aid or subsidies for the replacement of lead pipes, within consumers’ premises, the
Commission is aware of some Member States already using this incentive (grant schemes) to promote pipe
replacement (the Netherlands, United Kingdom), while some other Member States are still considering such
an incentive.

(1) Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption.

(2002/C 277 E/261)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1684/02

by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2002)

Subject: Free movement of hunting weapons

According to oral statements by the Italian authorities, the Italian laws Decreto Legge Nr. 527/92 of
30 December 1992 and Decreto Ministeriale Nr. 635/96 of 30 October 1996 do not permit
the
temporary importation of hunting weapons into Italy from another Member State, for example for them to
be shown to potential customers.

To what extent does the Commission view this as non-compliance with the implementation of Directive
91/477/EEC (1) and as an obstacle to the free movement of goods?

(1) OJ L 256, 13.9.1991, p. 51.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2002)

The Commission is grateful to the honourable Member for the information provided, to the effect that the
temporary importation of hunting weapons into Italy from another Member State, for example for them to
be shown to potential customers, is not allowed.

As the transfer of firearms from one EU Member State to another is governed by Council Directive
91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, the Commission
has contacted the authorities in the Member State in question to request clarification of the circumstances.

The Commission will certainly inform the honourable Member of the outcome of its approach.

(2002/C 277 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1689/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Air traffic control and weather forecasting

(12 June 2002)

Air traffic control
in Europe is extremely important as its effectiveness determines flight safety and
avoidance of delays. Equally as important (and closely linked) is the smooth operation of meteorological
services providing accurate long-range weather forecasts at the right time.

C 277 E/238

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Are there civil aviation services in the Member States which suspend operations during the weekends? Are
there national meteorological services which do likewise? If so, in which countries do those services close
at midday on Friday and resume operation on Monday? What problems does such an arrangement create
for civil aviation?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2002)

Civil aviation services in Europe are designed to deal with traffic demands which vary from place to place
and according to particular periods of use.

The demands are made every day of the week and the services must therefore be available at all times to
ensure that flights operate according to schedule and in safety. This concerns more especially the air traffic
control services, which include the meteorological services.

As far as air traffic control is concerned, the services available have sometimes been insufficient due to
reduced staffing levels at weekends. This has led to reduced air traffic management capability and therefore
more flight delays. It does not affect safety. The management problem, for which the EU does not have
power to act, could be solved by organising air traffic control services in a manner which reflects user
demand. The ‘Single sky’ initiative is aimed at increasing the safety, capacity and efficiency of air traffic
management. The regulatory framework proposed by the Commission will lead to stricter surveillance of
service providers’ performance by the national authorities and will introduce the harmonised rules and
standards which service providers need to improve their management of human resources and
infrastructure.

Some airports specialised in certain kinds of flights (general aviation) may be partially or fully closed at
weekends.

(2002/C 277 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1718/02

by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 June 2002)

Subject: Danger posed to European nature reserves in the Lower Oder Valley (Brandenburg)

The Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthaler waterway is part of a waterway linking Berlin and Stettin. The point
where the waterway joins the Western Oder river is the site of the ‘total reserve area’ of the ‘Lower Oder
Valley’ (‘Unteres Odertal’) national park. It is protected under national and EU law (special protection area
under Directive 79/409/EEC (1) and conservation area under Article 4(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC (2)). The
banks of the river provide a habitat for species such as otter, beaver and the small copper butterfly and as
a breeding ground and habitat for the black stork, the white-tailed eagle, the lesser spotted eagle and the
osprey. The breeding grounds of the aquatic warbler, the corncrake, the black tern and the little grebe are
also affected. These habitats are to be destroyed as a result of the straightening and widening from 26 m to
55 m of a 12 km section of the Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthaler waterway. The assessment of the project’s
impact on the environment and on natural habitats and wild flora and fauna was found to be inadequate
and faulty in its analysis. No survey of compensatory measures could be drawn up. The only alternatives
considered related to the form of the widening, and did not include alternative freight transport routes.

Is the Commission aware of the planned destruction of the above-mentioned natural habitats of rare
1.
species and species which are protected in Europe? If so, what measures is it taking to prevent this
destruction? If not, does it believe that, in a case such as this, preservation of the European nature reserve
takes precedence over the widening of the waterway, particularly given that the overall economic benefit
of the project is questionable, as an equivalent widening of the river, both upstream and downstream, is
neither possible nor planned?