WRITTEN QUESTION E-2549/02 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Public transport in urban areas 1: making towns accessible for tourists and other visitors by means of better information and sales.
Date: 2002-09-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, consumer information, means of public conveyance, public transport, tourism policy, transport user, urban transport

C 110 E/68

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

(2003/C 110 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2545/02

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(12 September 2002)

Subject: Violations of people’s freedom of movement committed by the French authorities at the Franco-

Italian border on the occasion of the ‘Technival’ of 15 August in Italy

On the occasion of the ‘Technival’ techno festival, held in Italy on the long weekend of 15 August, the
French authorities stopped lorries carrying musicians and their sound systems at the ‘Col de Larche La
Maddalena’ Franco-Italian border point and prevented them from reaching the event in Italy. The ‘Alpes de
Haute Provence’ prefecture even denied pedestrians access to Italy for several hours between 14 and
15 August.

What action does the Commission intend to take vis-à-vis the violations of people’s freedom of movement
committed on this occasion?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(21 October 2002)

Freedom to move and reside in another Member State is a fundamental right conferred directly on every
citizen of the European Union by the EC Treaty. However, this right may be restricted on grounds of
public policy, public security, or public health.

Public policy measures taken by the Member States must be assessed in the light of Council Directive 64/
221/EEC of 25 February 1964 on the coordination of special measures concerning the movement and
residence of foreign nationals which are justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public
health (1) and Court of Justice case-law. No restrictions in the interests of national security or public safety
may be placed on the rights secured by the EC Treaty other than such as are necessary for the protection
of those interests (2).

It falls to the national authorities first to assess the situation at hand and then to take appropriate measures
in accordance with Community law. In particular, any measures taken to protect law and order and public
security must respect the principle of proportionality: the measure must be justified, the end must be
commensurate with the means, and the right balance must be struck between the interests of the
individual and the State concerned.

The Commission is unable to determine, on the basis of the information provided by the Honourable
Member, whether the Community rules governing free movement were infringed in the case of the
‘Technival’
the public have been received in this
connection.

techno festival. No complaints from members of

(1) OJ P 56, 4.4.1964.
(2) Cf. Case 36/75 Rutili [1975] ECR II-1219.

(2003/C 110 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2549/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 September 2002)

Subject: Public transport in urban areas 1: making towns accessible for tourists and other visitors by means

of better information and sales

1.
Is the Commission aware that there are major differences between towns in EU Member States as
regards the extent to which local and regional transport are accessible for visitors unfamiliar with local
practices, the route network, the fare system and the language? In some towns, excellent information is
provided and tickets are readily available, whereas in others, visitors are forced to choose between walking,
taking a taxi, undertaking an extensive preliminary study of the local public transport system or putting up
with surprises and misunderstandings, with the result that in many cases the ticket used is either too cheap
for the journey in question (and therefore invalid) or too expensive, or that people end up at the wrong
destination.

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/69

Does the Commission agree that it would be worthwhile to improve the accessibility of urban public
2.
transport for tourists and other visitors from outside at European level by actively encouraging urban
authorities and public transport companies to seek to ensure that:

(cid:1) signs are installed at central locations showing the route network, the boundaries of the urban area or
of any fare zones within it and information about types of ticket and where they can be obtained,

(cid:1) leaflets are made available at central

locations such as railway stations, the main square, tourist
information offices, department stores, bookshops,
tourist shops or hotels and youth hostels,
containing information about the route network, zone boundaries, types of ticket, period of validity,
authorisation to transfer between routes, fare reductions for children, older people and groups and the
fares to be paid for the various types of ticket,

(cid:1) at the minimum, daily passes valid for the whole urban network, and possibly passes valid for several

days, are made available at an acceptable price,

(cid:1) ticket dispensers are installed to supply daily passes, multi-ride tickets and single-ride tickets, or it is

made possible in other ways to obtain such tickets quickly, easily and at all times?

(2003/C 110 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2550/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 September 2002)

Subject: Public transport in urban areas 2: introduction of standard information about routes and fares and

introduction of daily passes with the same recognisable names throughout Europe

Is the Commission aware that some towns which for a number of years, for example after the
1.
introduction of a new network of routes, the purchase of new vehicles or the opening of new tram-lines,
ensured that the transport system was accessible, have since neglected this concern, with the result that
they have relapsed into being difficult of access for outsiders?

2. Will the Commission, inter alia as part of its policy on tourism, take measures to arrange a European
scheme under which municipal authorities and local transport companies in as many towns as possible
with populations over 100 000 permanently offer a uniform standard package which at the minimum
meets the quality requirements referred to in the previous set of questions?

3. Will the Commission support this standard package by promoting the introduction of a single
recognisable European name for the daily pass and likewise for the information leaflet containing the
network of routes, so that they are easy to obtain everywhere?

Can this standard package be promoted by publicly identifying the towns which comply with such a
4.
European quality standard, thereby encouraging any towns which are not yet participating in the scheme
to do so and preventing some towns from again in due course relapsing into being difficult of access for
outsiders?

5. Will the Commission take measures, wherever possible, to encourage the extension of this standard
package and these European names to European states which have entered into long-term cooperation
with the EU,
including those states which are expected to become EU Member States within the
foreseeable future?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2549/02 and E-2550/02
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2002)

The Commission is aware of these problems, and agrees that it is worthwhile to address them. Effective
solutions benefit tourists and other visitors, resident citizens, and the environment.

The Commission already actively encourages authorities and operators to tackle these problems. It has
launched research projects
to identify solutions; cooperated with the European Committee for
Standardization to develop quality standards for public transport, drawing on this research; sponsored
Information Service, a computerised database of good practice (1);
the European Local Transport
encouraged networking between city authorities at European level to address transport problems; and