WRITTEN QUESTION P-2520/02 by Pietro-Paolo Mennea (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Air Sicilia.
Date: 2002-09-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, air transport, carriage of passengers, competence of the Member States, financial solvency, provision of services, redemption

C 52 E/182

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. What procedure did the Commission use to select the assessors?

2. What measures did the Commission take to ensure that the assessors were selected on merit and that

they evaluated in due manner the proposals submitted?

3. Were there any complaints in the last tendering procedure that the proposals were not evaluated and
if so, what action did the Commission take in response to those

selected in due manner and,
complaints?

What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that the resources concerned are properly managed?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2002)

As part of the procedures for selection of innovative measures cofinanced under Article 6 of Regulation
(EC) No 1784/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 1999 on the European
Social Fund (ESF) (1), the Commission, in accordance with established practice in a number of Community
programmes, makes use of the expertise of external evaluators for an initial evaluation of the content of
proposals received.

These evaluators are chosen from responses to a call for expressions of interest and on the basis of their
expertise in the area(s) covered by the proposals to be evaluated. Their role is limited to making
recommendations to the Commission, as the final decision on the proposals to be selected and on the
amount of Community cofinancing to be awarded is taken by the Commission alone.

The Commission ensures that the appropriations allocated to innovative measures under the ESF are
managed strictly and transparently, in line with the rules in force.

(1) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.

(2003/C 52 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2520/02

by Pietro-Paolo Mennea (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 September 2002)

Subject: Air Sicilia

According to reports in the Italian press and complaints made by members of the public, the airline Air
Sicilia, which operates on domestic routes in Italy, has suspended flights on various occasions, thereby
showing a degree of contempt for passengers, who are still waiting to be reimbursed.

This means that customers who were first of all inconvenienced are now awaiting refunds (cid:1) probably in
vain. This is a blatant infringement of the ‘Air Passenger Rights’ charter, which is supposed to be respected
by all operators in the sector and hence also by the airline in question.

Furthermore, according to further press reports, the airline is in financial difficulties and is unable to
respect its commitments vis-à-vis either its customers or its employees, who are demanding payment of
several months’ unpaid salary.

In the meantime the owners of the company are operating under other company names.

Can the Commission say whether these reports are true?

Can it also say whether this situation in general infringes the rights of European citizens and whether it
will take steps to protect all those who have suffered as a result and because of the behaviour referred to
above?

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/183

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2002)

From the information contained in the question of the Honourable Member, it seems that Air Sicilia is
unable to meet financial obligations towards its customers. At present, the Commission has no detailed
additional information on this subject.

Community legislation on the rights of air passengers does not cover such situations. They are rather
primarily regulated by national law for whose respect national authorities or courts are responsible.

However, the Commission will ask the Italian authorities for information in the light of Article 5 §5 of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992 on licensing of air carriers (1). This Article 5 §5
establishes a certain link between the holding of a license and the financial situation of an air carrier.

More generally, the Commission is closely following the financial situation of the aviation sector and, if a
serious general deterioration threatens the interests of passengers, will consider taking initiatives to protect
them.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.

(2003/C 52 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2534/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(11 September 2002)

Subject: Arrest of Mr Wan Yanhai, founder of AIDS Action Project, by the Chinese authorities

According to various sources, Mr Wan Yanhai, founder of Aizhi Xingdong (AIDS Action Project), an NGO
which focuses on the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness, was stopped by the police last Saturday evening
in Beijing, and then arrested. Mr Wan Yanhai, aged 39, has played a prominent role in campaigning for
civil rights and, in particular, the rights of homosexuals and Internet freedom. He was one of the first to
take a political stance on the AIDS issue, at a time when the subject was completely taboo. Mr Wan
Yanhai and his friends campaigned in favour of peasants in Henan, who had been contaminated following
a blood trafficking affair, and denounced the involvement of local authorities in this scandal. Last month,
Mr Wan Yanhai’s organisation was expelled from its offices in Beijing University.

Is the Commission aware of Mr Wan Yanhai’s arrest? What action has it taken or does it intend to take vis-
à-vis the Chinese authorities to ensure that he is released immediately and unconditionally? What action
has it taken or does it intend to take in order to ensure that the Chinese authorities seriously tackle the
issue of the massive scandal concerning contaminated blood and, more generally, address the tragic
problem of the AIDS epidemic in the People’s Republic of China?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2002)

The Commission has learned with regret of the arrest in Beijing of M. Wan Yanhai, founder of the
Acquired Immuno deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Action Project and human rights activist.

As the Honourable Member knows, the Commission attaches great importance to the right to freedom of
speech (as an integral part of human rights) and it raises this issue regularly in the framework of its
bilateral dialogue on human rights with China.

Regarding the AIDS epidemic in China, the Commission shares the Honourable Member’s concern and has
recognised the fight against AIDS as one of the main challenges faced by China. In order to help the
Chinese to deal with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the Commission is already implementing
two projects specifically dealing with AIDS issues, one of which is implemented by a Dutch non-
governmental organisation.