WRITTEN QUESTION E-0932/03 by Jorge Moreira Da Silva (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Second phase of implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.
Date: 2003-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, air transport, developing countries, environmental policy, greenhouse gas, international transport, maritime transport, reduction of gas emissions

C 11 E/156

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Commission reminds the Honourable Member that any requirement to carry out geological surveys
prior to infrastructure construction is a matter of national legislation, there being no such obligation in the
Community legislation. Thus the Commission has no authority to judge whether the surveys he refers to
were adequate or not.

(2004/C 11 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0932/03

by Jorge Moreira Da Silva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Second phase of implementation of the Kyoto Protocol

(26 March 2003)

In view of the need to prepare for the negotiations on the second phase of implementation of the Kyoto
Protocol, can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What does the Commission consider should be the overall target for the reduction of greenhouse gas

emissions in the second phase of implementation of the Kyoto Protocol?

2.

3.

In what way should emissions from international transport, specifically air and sea transport, be
included in the second period of the Kyoto Protocol?

Should developing countries be subject to binding targets for the reduction of emissions, in a change
to the situation in the first period?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 May 2003)

In preparing negotiations for greenhouse gas emission targets,

1.
the Commission considers it
important to take into account the available scientific evidence, as summarised in the Inter-Governmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Third Assessment Report. It appears premature and non-negotiable at
this stage to take a definitive decision on what the ultimate objective of the Convention, expressed in terms
of a long-term level of atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, should be. Nevertheless, the
Commission firmly believes that the next step should be taken with careful consideration of the resulting
global emissions level, taking into account non-participating countries and regions, and the achievable level
of atmospheric concentration. Following scientific evidence of the need to reduce emissions in the long-
term by some 70 % from 1990 levels, the Commission has outlined in the 6th Environmental Action
Programme its view to aim for a minimum 20 % global reduction by 2020.

2.
The Commission supports the allocation of emissions from international aviation and maritime
transportation to Parties, beginning in the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. The
Commission considers the most important issue is that international aviation and maritime emissions are
taken account of in the same way as emissions from all other sectors of the economy, and this concern
takes precedence over preference for any particular option for allocation to Parties under consideration by
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In respect of emissions from
aviation, also the overall radiative forcing from aviation should be taken into account as mentioned in the
1999 IPCC Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere. Any decision within the UNFCCC on
this issue will have to address this aspect. It is important for the Union to lead in discussions on this with
other Annex I Parties in the context of beginning to consider targets for the next commitment period.
Special efforts will be needed to include the United States and to find an equitable balance of the burdens
to be carried.

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/157

The Commission is of the opinion that the ultimate objective of the Convention can only be achieved
3.
by moving towards global participation over time, taking into account the common but differentiated
responsibilities and capabilities of developed as well as developing countries. It is therefore important to
initiate a dialogue with developing countries about options for increasing, in the future, their participation
to this end. However, because of differing circumstances and development levels from one developing
country to another, the Commission does not believe that all developing countries should join the climate
regime with binding targets in one step. Considering that many of them (most being less developed
countries (LDCs)) are currently contributing very little to global emissions, general binding targets in terms
of ‘emissions reduction’ are for the moment not likely to be appropriate. Other options should be explored
whilst examining what the objective conditions and time schedules might be for broadening participation.
Finally, those developing countries, in particular LDCs, may need appropriate assistance to ensure they
have the means and capacity to fulfil any new obligation.

(2004/C 11 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0943/03

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2003)

Subject: Commission communication with citizens

On 27 June 2001 the Commission adopted the Communication on a new framework for cooperation on
activities concerning the information and communication policy of the European Union.

Part of this process included the sending out of personalised letters, whose success on the few occasions on
which it has been used has proved to be a revelation, given how it was welcomed by the citizens
concerned.

Does the sending out of personalised letters as a means of direct communication with citizens represent a
practice which will be continued by the Commission’s information policy, so as to get closer to our
citizens, who already know how important the Commission is in their daily lives?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

As the Honourable Member pointed out in his previous question E-2552/01 (1) direct communication with
citizens by means of personalised letters can be an effective way of communicating. Targeted mailings,
therefore, remain an option to be used when appropriate.

It must be pointed out, however, that the costs incurred with such mailings are rather high and recent
polling confirms that for the majority of citizens (64 %) television is their preferred means of receiving
information (2). The Commission is,
focusing more efforts on audio-visual means of
communication. In addition, as proposed in the Communication on ‘An information and communication
strategy for the European Union’ (3) the Commission is increasingly working in partnership with the
Parliament, the Council and Member States on priority themes in order to generate awareness about the
Union. Decisions as to the most appropriate means to be used to reach out to citizens are naturally
considered in the context of these partnerships.

therefore,

(1) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002.
(2) Standard Eurobarometer 58 released in March 2003 http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/.
(3) COM(2002) 350 final.