WRITTEN QUESTION E-1692/02 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission. European Parliament resolution on road safety adopted on 18 January 2001.
Date: 2002-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU police cooperation, action programme, common transport policy, public awareness campaign, road safety

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(2002/C 309 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1678/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2002)

Subject: Commission proposal for a Council Directive concerning the conditions of entry and residence of

third-country nationals for the purposes of employment or self-employed activities

What is the legal basis for Article 11(3) of the Commission proposal for a Council Directive concerning the
conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of employment or self-
employed activities (1)?

(1) COM(2001) 386 final, OJ C 332 E, 27.11.2001, p. 248.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2002)

The Commission proposal for a Council Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-
country nationals for the purpose of paid employment and self-employed economic activities (1) is based
on Article 63(3) of the EC Treaty. Article 63(3) is the legal basis for all provisions contained in this
proposal, including Article 11(3).

(1) OJ C 332 E, 27.11.2001.

(2002/C 309 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1692/02

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 2002)

Subject: European Parliament resolution on road safety adopted on 18 January 2001

Can the Commission indicate what progress has been made on the actions and priorities set out in the
European Parliament resolution on road safety adopted on 18 January 2001?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2002)

In addition to continuing the measures already launched in previous years, the Commission has introduced
a series of new measures aimed at halving the numbers of road deaths by 2010, as proposed in the White
Paper on transport policy (1).

In this connection, we can mention in particular:

(cid:1) proposals on speed limiters, safety belts, working hours for professional drivers and car fronts: texts

on these four subjects are currently in the process of being adopted by the co-legislators;

(cid:1) the development and distribution of a database on road accidents (a first series of accident statistics is

now available on Europa);

(cid:1) the launch of wide-ranging awareness campaigns, dealing in particular with alcohol and the behaviour

of young road users;

(cid:1) the reinforcement of cooperation between control bodies in the Member States through collaboration

between different traffic-police forces;

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(cid:1) the move to the operational phase of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, covering all

aspects of road safety;

(cid:1) various studies on the behaviour of road users, vehicle technology, road infrastructure and technology

and the fight against legal and illegal drugs.

A Community action plan on road safety, giving more details of the abovementioned measures and listing
further measures to be taken, will soon be the object of a Commission communication.

(1) European transport policy for 2010: time to decide, COM(2001) 370 final.

(2002/C 309 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1695/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE), Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE),
Anne Van Lancker (PSE) and Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 2002)

Subject: Guarantee in connection with the running-down of

intervention stocks that

food will be

distributed to disadvantaged groups

In the run-up to the enlargement, it is only normal that the Commission should be seeking to make
revisions to agricultural policy. It is also understandable that the new policy should be geared more
towards quality than quantity, one of the reasons which prompted the decision to run down intervention
stocks. On the other hand, the idea that, although not originally intended for this purpose, part of the
intervention stocks should now be used in order to guarantee disadvantaged groups the right to food
should not be rejected out of hand.

Can the Commission state whether it has considered this idea in connection with any moves to run down
intervention stocks and, if not, whether it intends to take other steps to ensure that food provision for the
most disadvantaged population groups in Europe at least remains at current levels?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2002)

The aid programme introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3730/87 of 10 December 1987 laying
down the general rules for the supply of food from intervention stocks to designated organisations for
distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community (1) and organised by Commission Regulation
(EEC) No 3149/92 of 29 October 1992 (2) is one of the food programmes developed by the Union. The
special feature of the programme is that it is based on intervention stocks and therefore helps reduce
Europe’s agricultural surpluses.

One of the objectives of the reform launched several years ago is to prevent intervention stocks from
building up. The resulting downward trend in intervention stock quantities could ultimately entail re-
examining the programme’s advisability and implementation. It should be emphasised, however, that this
trend is gradual and that the quantities needed to implement the programme are relatively small compared
with present intervention stocks of various products.

The Commission would therefore point out that the downward trend in intervention stocks highlighted by
the Honourable Members does not constitute an obstacle to implementing the current (2002) annual plan
in the normal way or to preparing the next (2003).