WRITTEN QUESTION E-0734/03 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Imposition of a right turn ban.
Date: 2003-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, competence of the Member States, town traffic, traffic regulations

C 268 E/126

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

(2003/C 268 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0725/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject:

‘Prestige’: additional European compensation fund

(11 March 2003)

On 21 November 2002, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the ‘Prestige’ disaster off the
coast of Galicia. Paragraph 6 reads:

Calls for the Commission proposal establishing an additional European compensation fund of
EUR 1 billion for oil pollution damage to be implemented immediately.

What is the Commission’s current view of this request from Parliament?

Does the Commission intend to adopt a fresh initiative in this connection, which would be more than
justified in the wake of the ‘Prestige’ disaster?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member about the need to ensure that sufficient
compensation is available for all victims of oil pollution incidents.

Therefore, the Commission proposed on 6 December 2000 to establish the COPE Fund, which would raise
the overall maximum compensation to EUR 1 billion instead of the current international limit of around
EUR 185 million. Such a measure would ensure that all victims who have a legitimate claim for
compensation will be fully compensated in case of an oil spill in Union waters and would also serve to
speed up the compensation of victims.

However, the Council decided not to proceed with the proposal, but instead to promote the establishment
of a similar fund at international level. The Diplomatic Conference on the Supplementary Fund takes place
on 12 to 16 May 2003. The Commission has repeatedly insisted, the International Supplementary Fund
can only be accepted as an alternative to the COPE Fund if its overall limit is set at the same levels as
proposed by the Commission and that it shall be fully operational by the end of 2003. Should this not be
the case, rapid adoption of the Commission’s proposal for a COPE Fund, as amended following the support
of the Parliament, is essential.

(2003/C 268 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0734/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Imposition of a right turn ban

The local council of Sutton, Surrey is trying to install a right turn ban at a junction on a major local road.
By their own admission, Sutton Council say that this will have a minimal effect on accident prevention
(less than one collision per year). In fact the introduction of the right turn ban is likely to have an adverse
effect on accident prevention as up to 140 000 vehicles a year would be forced into residential streets,
which are not suitable for such an influx of traffic.

Local residents are very much against the scheme and are looking for ways to prevent it going ahead.

Does the Commission believe that there is any provision under EU law to help local residents use litigation
to stop this right turn ban?

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/127

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2003)

the national authorities.
The organisation of
Accordingly, the Commission does not believe there is any provision under Community law to help local
residents with the problem raised by the Honourable Member.

traffic on local roads falls within the jurisdiction of

(2003/C 268 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0757/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 March 2003)

Subject: Action against avoidable blindness

‘Vision 2020: The Right to Sight’ is a worldwide campaign that aims to eliminate all avoidable blindness by
2020. The aim of the campaign is to give effect in the 21st century to the motto that everyone has the
right to sight, a right that must not be taken away by poverty or by lack of information or care.

90 % of blind people live in the Third World, and 80 % of the world’s blindness could have been avoidaed
or cured. Cataracts can be removed. Trachoma, an infectious disease that causes blindness mostly in
women and children living in areas lacking in clean water, can be avoided and cured. It is hoped that river
blindness will be eliminated by 2007. In west Africa the illness has already been brought under control.
Few campaigns have had so much success with so little resources.

Is the Commission prepared to make the fight against all forms of blindness in the world a priority?

If so, in what way?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2003)

The Commission is aware of the burden of disease due to avoidable blindness in developing countries. The
global burden of serious visual
impairment is estimated to be some 150 million people with some
40 million of them blind (visual acuity less than 3/60). As stated, 90 % of the blind live in developing
countries and 80 % of the world’s blindness can be prevented or cured. Besides the profound effects on the
health of
those affected, blindness has severe economic consequences in the community. Cataract,
trachoma and glaucoma together account for more than 70 % of the world’s blindness. Other important
causes such as xerophtalmia (Vitamin A deficiency), onchocerciasis in West Africa and leprosy, could be
eradicated. As ageing and urbanisation changes the disease pattern in many developing countries, other
causes of blindness such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration are expected to increase further
the burden of blindness.

The Commission supports the strengthening of health systems, which are the key to effective and
sustainable prevention and care of most causes of blindness. Water supply and sanitation is another
essential element to reduce the incidence of trachoma, and here the Commission has programmed over
EUR 600 million in support. The Commission has also supported with EUR 4,5 million from the
the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control where
8th European Development Fund (EDF),
Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
the Netherlands, Portugal and the United
Kingdom are also donors.

Italy, Luxembourg,