WRITTEN QUESTION E-2706/02 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Channel Tunnel freight services.
Date: 2002-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, carriage of goods, cross-channel connection, rail transport, transport safety

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/203

(2003/C 52 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2700/02

by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Applications for supplementary benefits from the French National Solidarity Fund

The third paragraph of the written reply of 12 March 2002 to Question H-0124/02 (1) states that ‘as soon
as the Commission has information from the French authorities the Honourable Member will be informed’.

Six months have now elapsed, and I deem it advisable and necessary to reiterate my question:

(cid:1) I would furthermore ask what steps the Commission has taken;

(cid:1) has there been any reply from the French authorities which would allow us to conclude that

applicants will have a response in the immediate future?

(1) Written answer of 12.3.2002.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

As stated in reply to the Honourable Member’s oral question H-124/02 during Question Time at the
March 2002 part-session, the Commission contacted the French authorities in order to ascertain why
applications from Spanish nationals for benefits from the French National Solidarity Fund had not been
processed.

The French authorities stated that many applications were filed without further action being taken because
information. However, as the procedure
they had not received replies to their requests for additional
applied by the French institutions allows files to be reopened at the request of applicants, the French
authorities asked the Spanish institute for migration and social services to provide it with a list of
applicants who had not yet received a reply.

The Spanish institute recently passed this list on to the French authorities, and the applications are
currently being processed by the relevant departments. Given the delay in processing due to the number of
files involved, the French authorities believe they will be able to inform the Spanish Ministry of the first
results by December 2002.

The Commission will remain in contact with the national authorities to ensure that a satisfactory solution
is found for all parties concerned.

(2003/C 52 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2706/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Channel Tunnel freight services

Latest reports suggest that while the construction of a security fence at Fréthun has improved the situation,
the number of hours each day during which it is possible to operate rail freight traffic through the Tunnel
is still restricted due to the failure of the French authorities to provide sufficient forces to maintain security
cover throughout the day.

Is the Commission satisfied with this continued disruption to trade?

What steps is the Commission taking to seek to remedy the situation?

C 52 E/204

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

The Commission has recently received similar information, from complainants as well as from the French
authorities, on the progress of the work and the situation of rail traffic in the Channel Tunnel.

It emerges from all this information that the situation at the Calais-Fréthun terminal is improving and that
is reflected in a steady increase in rail traffic through the Tunnel.

The Commission welcomes this encouraging improvement, which is the result of measures already taken
by the French authorities, such as the erection of a double security fence around the site.

The Commission has nevertheless drawn the attention of the French authorities (cid:1) in particular, at the
meeting on 30 September 2002 between the Member of the Commission responsible for the Internal
Market and Mme Lenoir, Minister with responsibility for European Affairs (cid:1) to the fact that it is waiting
for the complete and final removal of any hindrance to the free movement of goods.

This removal can involve only the reintroduction of unrestricted traffic throughout the day, which was the
case before the disruptive events of November 2001.

Although the current volume of traffic, which has been affected by a lengthy period of restrictions, does
not yet require the rail terminal to be open for 24 hours a day, the Commission considers that when traffic
returns to the levels which existed before the disruption the site will in fact need to be open night and day.

The Commission will thus continue to monitor the progress achieved by the French authorities with a
view to attaining this aim.

The French authorities have also been asked to keep the Commission regularly informed about future
measures at the Fréthun site to increase security, as well as about any resulting improvements in traffic.

(2003/C 52 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2710/02

by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Comparability of EU and US figures

In the mid-1990s the United States introduced a system of hedonic price indexing. The use of this system
results in higher growth figures because it calculates product replacement differently from more traditional
methods.

1.

2.

To what extent are the results of the US economy flattered by the use of this index?

Is it possible to compare the US results that would be obtained with and without this indexing?

To what extent is indexing applied to European figures? If not or if only in part, would be right to

3.
say that there is an ‘optical divide’ between the US and Europe?

The indexing system is controversial among economists and could entail calculating non-existent

4.
wealth. What does the European Commission think about the use of this method?