WRITTEN QUESTION E-1971/02 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC.
Date: 2002-07-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU environmental policy, application of EU law, infringement procedure (EU), metal waste, national implementing measure, waste management

C 309 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

the Honourable Member

is aware, Community nature protection legislation ensures proper
As
consideration of alternatives of such types of transport projects in case an area out of the Natura 2000
network is affected.

Therefore, the Commission considers that the Polish authorities should apply the principles of Article 6 of
the Habitat Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1)) and fully evaluate, for the expressway though the Biebrza National
Park, all possible alternatives. If no alternative exists, there should be a detailed assessment of the impact
on the natural fauna and flora as well as on the natural value of the site. The national authorities should
agree to the plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of
the site concerned and, if appropriate, after having obtained the opinion of the general public. Lastly, the
Polish authorities should ensure that all appropriate mitigation measures are applied to minimise the
impact on the environment. If the analysis shows that the project will have negative effects on these areas,
the project can only be authorised for the reasons set out in Article 6(4) and adequate mitigation and
compensatory measures have to be taken.

The Commission wishes to underline that no PHARE or ISPA funding has been provided for the
construction of the Via Baltica across the Biebrza National Park in Poland. Furthermore, no such project
features in either the ISPA or the PHARE project pipeline. In June of this year, an ISPA application has
been received for adding an additional traffic lane on the section Radzymin-Wyszkow and for the building
of the Wyszkow by-pass on the Via Baltica. In that application, the Polish authorities confirm that no areas
protected under the Polish Act of Natural Protection are crossed by this section. In spite of this declaration
and on the basis of the provisions of Article 6 of the Habitat Directive, the Polish authorities were already
asked by the Commission to provide clear evidence that all alternatives to the proposed project have been
properly assessed as well as a more detailed assessment of the impact of the project on the natural fauna,
flora and the natural value of the site.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 309 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1971/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 July 2002)

Subject: End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC

the Commission confirm that

Will
requirements of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC (1) by Member States was 21 April 2002?

the deadline for transposition and implementation of

the first

How many Member States had informed the Commission by 22 April 2002 that they had in fact complied
with the requirements?

How many Member States had given prior indication to the Commission, or informed the Environment
Council, that they would not be in a position to comply with the Directive in accordance with the
legislative requirements?

In view of the fact that every Member State appears to have failed to meet the requirements of the
legislation, what representations has the Commission made on the subject, and what proposals for reform
of the enforcement procedures is it making?

Given the serious implications of this breakdown in EU law-making procedures, has Commissioner
Wallström or the President of
the Commission raised the issue directly with prime ministers or
environment ministers?

(1) OJ L 269, 21.10.2000, p. 34.

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/183

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2002)

The Commission confirms that the deadline for implementation of Directive 2000/53/EC (1) on end-

1.
of-life vehicles was 21 April 2002 (see Article 10 of the Directive).

By 22 April 2002, no Member State had communicated to the Commission the measures taken to

2.
transpose the Directive into national law.

No Member State had given prior indication to the Commission by 22 April 2002 that they would

3.
not be in a position to comply with the Directive in accordance with the legislative requirements.

In case of non-communication by the Member States of the laws, regulations and administrative
4.
provisions brought into force in order to comply with Community Directives within the time limits set out
for transposition, the Commission initiates infringement proceedings against the concerned Member States,
based on Article 226 of the EC Treaty. The Commission has started this procedure by sending letters of
formal notice for non-communication to all Member States. Therefore, the Commission does not envisage
any reform of the legislative process or enforcement procedure.

5.
Given that the Commission is applying the Treaty provisions concerning non-transposition, and that
the procedure is at an early stage, there has been no need for the Commission to raise this issue with
Member States directly at ministerial level.

(1) Directive 2000/53/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of life vehicles, OJ L 269,

21.10.2000.

(2002/C 309 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/02

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 July 2002)

Subject: Price disparities

Is the Commission aware that according to a survey carried out by ‘Retail Intelligence’, consumers in the
Republic of Ireland are paying more for their groceries in comparison to other European states?

A shopping trolley of 40 items of food and drink in the Irish Republic cost EUR 296,31 compared with
EUR 232,82 in St Tropez located in the south of France. Irish consumers are therefore paying 27 % more
for the same items.

Could the Commission investigate why such disparities exist and what measures the Commission will take
to ensure the Irish consumers are not being ripped off.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

According to Eurostat’s preliminary purchasing power parity (PPP) data for the year 2000, which will
shortly be published, Ireland is on the aggregated level only about 6 % more expensive than France (private
final consumption expenditure).

For food and non-alcoholic beverages the price difference is 3 % (Ireland more expensive).

The difference between this figure and the figure of 23 % according to the ‘Retail Intelligence’ report to
which the Honourable Member refers is due to the way in which this study was carried out.