WRITTEN QUESTION E-0366/03 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Directive on railway tunnels.
Date: 2003-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, rail transport, transport policy, transport safety, tunnel

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/177

(2003/C 192 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0366/03

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Directive on railway tunnels

The recent rail accident at Tenda (Alpes Maritimes), irrespective of the assessment to be made by the
French judicial authorities currently dealing with it, raises the issue of safety in railway tunnels. Since the
directive on road tunnels was recently presented to Parliament, can the Commission say whether a similar
initiative is envisaged for railway tunnels? Can it also say what the timescale and contents might be?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2003)

In the context of the implementation of Directive 2001/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 19 March 2001 on interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system (1), the
Commission is planning to adopt a technical specification for interoperability (TSI) in the area of railway
tunnel safety.

To this end, and as provided for under Article 6(1) of the abovementioned Directive, a mandate was given
in October 2002 to the European Association for Railway Interoperability (AEIF). Under this mandate, the
AEIF is required to come up with a draft technical interoperability specification within thirty months.

As provided for in Article 6 of the Directive, this draft will be the subject of a cost-benefit analysis and of
consultations between both sides of industry. It will then be submitted for an opinion to the Committee set
up pursuant to Article 21 of that Directive. There are plans for the adoption of such a TSI during the
course of 2005.

(1) OJ L 110, 20.4.2001.

(2003/C 192 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0374/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(13 February 2003)

Subject: Closure of Clarks factory in Portugal and Community funds

The announcement of the forthcoming closure of a shoe factory belonging to the British multinational
C & J Clark, in Castelo de Paiva in northern Portugal, has received widespread coverage in the Portuguese
media. This unexpected closure will make almost 600 workers redundant, with extremely severe
repercussions on the social
level for the households of those who live and work in the municipality
(which is, furthermore, located in a region classified as ‘Objective 1’ under the Structural Funds). This
company received substantial amounts from both national and Community funds in connection with the
establishment of this factory in 1988 and its operations in Castelo de Paiva, on the understanding that it
would continue its activities up to at least 2007.

It appears, besides, that the company C & J Clark is an ‘old hand’ at this kind of practice, the strategy being
to relocate the Portuguese factory in Romania with the aim of receiving fresh Community funds. In
addition, this company has received financial support despite the fact that it resorts to subcontracting.

Is the Commission in possession of information, and, notably, business records, which could disqualify the
group Clarks or C & J Clark from receiving any direct or indirect Community funding in the future, in view
of its financial record in its dealings with the EU (or, previously, the EEC) and its past practices? Does the
Commission keep records concerning the firms, entrepreneurs or groups that receive direct or indirect aid
from Community funds, so as to ensure that the beneficiaries do not subsequently break their agreements,
thus acting contrary to both important social and economic interests and the Union’s own financial
interests? Should this not be the case, does the Commission not have both the duty and the facilities to