WRITTEN QUESTION E-0106/03 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel.
Date: 2003-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: commercial vehicle, product safety, safety device, technical regulations, transport accident, transport safety

C 88 E/314

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The Commission is closely following the performance of these vehicles, particularly high-riding and heavy
SUVs to see if any measures are necessary. However,
some forthcoming and already proposed
requirements will deal with some of the most important elements with regard to this kind of vehicle. In
this regard, as has already been announced, a Framework Directive will be proposed by the Commission
concerning the protection of pedestrians and cyclists which will cover this kind of vehicles up to 2,5 tonnes
In addition, the Commission will further propose a Directive concerning so-called bull-bars,
weight.
equipment which is quite frequently used on these vehicles. Finally, the Commission has already proposed
a Directive concerning improved indirect vision (1), which will require mirrors or alternative measures to
reduce ‘dead angles’.

The term ‘Sport Utility Vehicles’ is not exactly defined. However, it is estimated that of all light vehicles
registered in the Community about 3 % are SUVs, so the share is only about a tenth of the American level.
It is difficult to foresee how the market will develop but there are some factors that would limit the use of
these vehicles, like the price of them, the fuel consumption and the price of fuel, and the size of them,
which makes them impractical in many urban areas in Europe. Still, there is no doubt that their sales are
increasing.

It is important to note that the vehicle industry has undertaken a commitment to achieve a reduction of
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from M1 passenger cars down to the average of 140 grammes per
kilometer (gr/km) by 2008/2009 for sales on the Community market. The monitoring of the commitment
has shown decreasing CO2 emission over recent years. As far as SUVs and similar vehicles are classified as
M1 passenger cars they would fall under this commitment. Improved fuel consumption is therefore an
important factor for the industry. The Commission has proposed to extend the measurements of CO2 to
include vehicles of category N1 (vehicles used for carriage of goods) (2). Currently, the Commission is
conducting a study in order to evaluate options if and how this category could be covered by CO2
reduction measures. It is planned to inform Council and the Parliament about the outcome of this study
still in 2003.

It is not the policy of the Commission to discourage the sale of any particular vehicle type as long as they
fulfil all safety and emission requirements. However,
the Commission is examining and working
continuously on initiatives to increase the environmental and safety standards of vehicles sold in the
Internal Market.

(1) OJ C 126 E, 28.5.2002.
(2) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0319)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0106/03

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: Fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel

While the French judiciary continues its enquiry into the notorious fire which caused the deaths of
39 people in the Mont Blanc tunnel on 24 March 1999, great concern has been aroused by the news that
there may have been a defect in the Volvo lorry which caught fire inside the tunnel and triggered the
tragedy. Suspicions centre on a construction fault on a certain model of lorry, which is said to result in the
lorry catching fire in the event of a cigarette end entering the air intake. Does the Commission have any
information on this matter?

Answer given by M. Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2003)

The Commission has not been informed of any developments in the investigation being conducted by the
French authorities to determine the full circumstances of how this disaster occurred, as the matter is still
sub judice. The Commission is, however, familiar with a number of official reports which establish the

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/315

facts and are in the public domain. The Commission is aware, for instance, that the disaster began with a
fire breaking out in a semi-trailer towing vehicle a few minutes after it had driven through the Chamonix
toll-station. Various possible explanations have been put forward as to how this fire actually started in the
towing vehicle. At the moment, none of these theories can be either confirmed or ruled out, and it is up to
the experts appointed by the examining magistrate to check their relevance.

On 30 December 2002 the Commission submitted a proposal
for a Directive on minimum safety
requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network, in order to prevent such accidents and to
protect tunnel users.

The Commission also intends to make it mandatory for hand-held fire extinguishers or fire extinguishing
systems to be fitted in all vehicles with a maximum mass of more than 3,5 tonnes. It will also endeavour
to resolve the safety problems posed by the additional fuel tanks which may be mounted on heavy goods
vehicles.

Lastly, in the course of 2003, the Commission will submit a proposal to extend Community type-approval
to commercial vehicles. In the meantime, type-approval of such vehicles remains the responsibility of each
Member State and national regulations apply to the construction standards governing such vehicles.

(2004/C 88 E/0320)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0110/03

by Peter Liese (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 January 2003)

Subject: Vaccination against smallpox in the Member States

Various preparations are currently being made in the Member States to combat possible terrorist attacks
using the smallpox virus. Media reports have caused great alarm among the general public. Since the
smallpox virus would obviously not stop at the frontiers of the Member States, an EU-wide approach is
essential.

Does the European Commission have any information about the various strategies in the Member States?
What plans are there for transfrontier coordination of the various strategies of the individual Member
States? Can the Commission offer to assist the Member States, with particular regard to an assessment of
the possible side effects of vaccination against smallpox? To what extent will
it be possible to take
advantage of the benefits of the single market in order to ensure that supplies of highly-effective vaccines
which have minimal side effects are available in all the Member States as rapidly as possible when
required?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2003)

As indicated in its Communications ‘Civil protection (cid:1) State of preventive alert against possible
emergencies’ (1) and ‘Civil protection (cid:1) Progress made in implementing the programme for preparedness
for possible emergencies’ (2),
the Commission and the Member States are working together in the
framework of a programme on health security to strengthen preparedness for and response to deliberate
the confidential
releases of biological and chemical agents to cause harm. This involves,
exchange of information and sharing of best practice on national strategies to face up to a smallpox
outbreak and allow the highest possible degree of co-ordination in introducing counter-measures. It also
involves the dissemination of information, reviews and guidelines for health professionals on priority issues
such as surveillance, detection, laboratory analysis and case management.

inter alia,

The side-effects of smallpox vaccination dating from the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) eradication
programme have been well documented and published. New data arising out of planned vaccination in
some countries will, however, be disseminated by the Commission’s Task Force on Health Security once
they become available.