WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/02 by Margie Sudre (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Future of tourism ecolabels in Europe.
Date: 2002-09-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU initiative, eco-label, tourism

C 92 E/186

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

2. With respect to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by ships (Marpol) Annex
VI, the sulphur oxides (SOX) Emission Control Area in the North Sea and the Baltic will not enter into
force on 31 December 2002. Annex VI can only enter into force twelve months after it has been ratified
by fifteen flag states representing 50 % of world merchant shipping tonnage. To date, seven flag states have
ratified representing 26 % of world tonnage. However, the Commission’s proposal to amend Directive
1999/32/EC will include, inter alia, provisions seeking effectively to implement the SOX Emission Control
Area.

3. With respect to the availability of marine fuel with a sulphur content below 1,5 %, a recent study by
Beicip Franlab for the Commission indicates that the average sulphur content of marine heavy fuel oil sold
in the Community is 2,5 %. In three Member States the average sulphur content of heavy fuel oil is below
2 %; in two Member States it is above 3,0 %. The same study finds that around 5 million tonnes of 1,5 %
sulphur heavy fuel oil could be made available in the Community at relatively low cost.

4. With respect to catalytic reduction units, the Commission does not currently have data on the
number of Community-flagged vessels equipped with such technology.

to financial

Finally, with respect

including Hamburg and
5.
Rotterdam, offer a reduction in port dues to ships that use low-sulphur fuel. The Swedish system of
differentiated fairway dues has not been adopted in other Member States, probably because most have no
existing system of national fairway dues, which they could adapt in this way. As part of the forthcoming
Community strategy, the Commission is investigating the feasibility of a range of market-based instruments
to complement regulatory measures in order to deliver emissions reductions.

incentives, some Community ports,

(1) Council Directive 1999/32/EC of 26 April 1999 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels

and amending Directive 93/12/EEC, OJ L 121, 11.5.1999.
(2) Decision No 1600/2002/EC of the Parliament and of

the Council of 22 July 2002 laying down the Sixth

Community Environment Action Programme, OJ L 242, 10.9.2002.

(2003/C 92 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2571/02

by Margie Sudre (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 September 2002)

Subject: Future of tourism ecolabels in Europe

The Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) was set up twenty years ago on the
initiative of experts from the Council of Europe. It instigated and now manages the Blue Flag campaign,
which today covers 24 countries.

Over the past four years the FEEE has been building on its expertise with the ‘Green Keys’ programme,
under which labels are awarded to open-air tourist accommodation centres.

In connection with this campaign, the FEEE was asked to participate in the Life programme VISIT
(Voluntary Initiative for Sustainability in Tourism), which aims to promote existing European ecolabels for
tourism. This programme currently receives
from the Commission
(EUR 882 858).

substantial

financial

support

At the same time, the FEEE learned to its surprise and interest of Commission plans under which tourist
accommodation establishments would not be allowed to use the European ecolabel.

It would seem contradictory for both these initiatives to have originated from the same institution, with
one aiming to promote existing initiatives and the other to eliminate and replace them.

Could the Commission clearly indicate what its intentions are with regard to the future of European
ecolabels for tourism?

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/187

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2002)

The Honourable Member asks the Commission for clarification on two initiatives in the tourism sector:
The LIFE project ‘VISIT’ and the European eco-label for tourist accommodation.

Both activities should be complementary and aim at improving the environmental performance of tourist
enterprises in Europe through labelling systems. Against a background of about 60 different labels on the
market, the two initiatives look at ways to ensure that the consumer has access to reliable information on
the environmental quality of tourist services.

The VISIT project provides a common information platform to increase public awareness for the
participating labelling schemes. Only those schemes which fulfil some minimum basic standards for their
criteria and their verification procedures can benefit from this platform. This does not imply that all
participating schemes have the same ecological criteria and certification systems.

The European eco-label for tourist accommodation will offer a harmonised European third party certified
eco-label, which is easily recognisable as the same logo will be used for all tourist accommodation with the
award throughout Europe. The consumer can be confident that the service bearing the label is one of the
best with respect to its environmental performance.

With respect to the national Type I labelling systems the Community eco-label has a policy of co-operation
and co-ordination to strengthen their role in achieving more sustainable consumption patterns in Europe.
Thus the Community eco-label criteria currently under development foresee credits for existing Type I eco-
labels in the scoring system. The status of work in this area can be followed on the Commission eco-label
web-site (http://europa.eu.int/ecolabel).

(2003/C 92 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2580/02

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 September 2002)

Subject: Attestation of professional competence for cabin crews in civil aviation

In 1997 the Commission submitted a proposal for a Directive (1) on safety requirements and attestation of
professional competence for cabin crews in civil aviation, on which the European Parliament delivered its
opinion at first reading on 19 February 1998.

To date this dossier has not been completed and the training and attestation of professional competence
for cabin crews in civil aviation remain in the hands of the operators, since it has not yet been established
that their training should be carried out by independent bodies appointed by the Member States.

In the meantime, and according to information from trade unions representing cabin staff, an increasing
number of airlines are employing crews on a temporary and seasonal basis, and some of them have even
reduced the period of basic training.

In view of current security concerns in air transport and the importance and responsibility of cabin crews
in this area, can the Commission say why the proposal for a directive has not yet been followed up and
what the prospects are for its definitive adoption?

(1) COM/97/0382 (cid:1) OJ C 263, 29.8.1997, p. 5.