WRITTEN QUESTION E-2251/02 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Whiplash injury.
Date: 2002-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, consumer information, motor car, research and development, transport accident, trauma, vehicle parts

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/209

The candidate countries are currently working on the transposition and implementation of the Habitats
and Birds Directives (2) including the selection of sites to be proposed for inclusion in the list of Natura
2000 sites.

As long as no lists of such sites have been identified by the candidate countries, the Commission considers
that when considering projects for Community assistance, the following types of sites should be regarded
as ‘environmentally sensitive areas’ in the field of nature protection:

(a)

sites listed in the latest inventory on Important Bird Areas for candidate countries (IBA 2000, prepared
by Birdlife International) and (if available) equivalent more detailed scientific inventories endorsed by
national authorities;

(b) wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention or qualifying for such

protection;

(c) areas to which the Bern Convention on the conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

(Article 4) applies, in particular sites meeting the criteria of the Emerald network;

(d) areas protected under national nature conservation legislation.

In case any of these sites are likely to be affected significantly by any plan or project to be financed by pre-
accession funding, similar procedures as foreseen in Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive would
need to be applied in order to ensure appropriate treatment of such cases in line with the Community
environmental protection standards.

(1) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,
OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, and Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds;
OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2003/C 28 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2251/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Whiplash injury

In its answer to my written question E-1452/02 (1), on whiplash injury, the Commission states that two
projects on this subject were included in the fourth and fifth framework programmes. However, the
Commission neglects to give a concrete answer to my question, which I therefore submit again.

The fifth five-year framework programme has now been completed. When can we expect results, practical
measures and new rules designed to prevent whiplash injury?

(1) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2002)

In its two previous answers to the Honourable Member’s Written Questions E-0310/02 (1) and E-1452/
02 (2), the Commission informed the Honourable Member that an important research programme focusing
on the issue of whiplash injuries was currently in progress.

C 28 E/210

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

Within the framework of the competitive and sustainable growth programme concerning the period
1998-2002, the Commission initiated the research programme Whiplash II, following on from the Brite-
Euram III project (which was Whiplash I).

As part of Whiplash I, a RID-2 (Rear Impact Dummy) test dummy was developed by the TNO (Dutch
Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) in Delft, based on the dummy currently used in frontal
impact testing. This dummy is intended to be used in low and mid-severity rear-end collision testing and
further investigation is still necessary to confirm whether it could be validated for frontal impact too.

Some results of Whiplash I and of some National research studies are likely to be used in the context of
the EURO-NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) programme. This programme aims to
provide consumers with an independent assessment of the safety performances of cars sold in Europe.

The Whiplash II research programme, which started in March 2001, will continue until March 2004. It
covers different aspects such as:

(cid:1) accident analyses in order to develop knowledge on the causes of injury and accident conditions in

which whiplash injuries occur;

(cid:1) human responses and injuries in laboratory conditions in order to develop criteria to be measured on

dummies;

(cid:1) development of an appropriate test method to be applied to vehicles (rear impact test).

When the results are available, they will be debated within international fora as the EEVC (European
Enhanced Vehicle Safety Committee), the GRSP (Passive safety Working Party) of UN/ECE (United Nations/
Economic Committee for Europe) and IHRA (International Harmonisation of Research Activities).
In
addition to this programme, the United States’ National Highway Traffic Safety Agency is currently
studying improvements to its legislation in this area.

Since these important research programmes are still in progress, it is difficult to forecast the outcome and
the resultant
the Commission will consider technical
regulations as soon as the results are available.

introduction of new regulations. Nevertheless,

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 111.
(2) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002.

(2003/C 28 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2252/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Community support

Since 1 June 2002, following the transfer of the firm, the 100 workers employed by Asoni Ltd., a garment
manufacturer based in Cucujães, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal and owned by Asoni SA, based in Zurich,
Switzerland, have been working for a different firm, Cachoeira Confecções Ltd, which is based in Vila do
Conde but appears to be linked to the Asoni SA group.

The management of the new firm has now decided to dismiss six workers, including a trade union leader,
without any justification or compensation, which is unacceptable under both Portuguese and Community
law.

Can the Commission say whether it is aware of any Community support having been provided for the
firms concerned and, if so, what steps it will take to uphold the right to employment of all the employees?