WRITTEN QUESTION E-1155/03 by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE)and Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Telephone masts and the environment.
Date: 2003-04-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: choice of technology, environmental impact, radio telecommunications, telecommunications equipment, telecommunications industry, telecommunications policy, transmission network

C 33 E/96

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

In September 2001, the Commission published its White Paper on Transport, in which it stresses the need
to revitalise the use of trains as a key means of re-establishing the balance between the various modes of
transport. Proposals deriving from the White Paper comprise a package of five legislative measures
presented on 23 January 2002, designed to create an integrated railway area within Europe,
in both
technical and legal terms.

The French Government has just announced that the international Figueres to Perpignan section of the
Franco-Spanish high-speed rail link will be ready only in 2007 or 2008, instead of 2005, as originally
planned and for which dates the Spanish Government has given assurances that it will be ready for the
link.

Does the Commission not believe that the delay announced by the French Government runs counter to the
Commission’s wish to improve the railway network, as expressed in its White Paper on Transport?

Does the Commission intend to take action in respect of the French Government’s decision, in order to
ensure that the link comes into service by the original date,
in keeping with the Commission’s own
proposals?

(1) OJ L 75, 15.3.2001, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 2003)

It has
The Commission can but deprecate the delays in bringing the international section on line.
repeatedly decried this situation affecting many trans-European transport network projects, pointing out
the negative impact on EU competitiveness in the long term (1). The delays on the Perpignan-Figueras
section, however, are attributable in the main to problems in setting up the concession for this
international section. The Franco-Spanish Intergovernmental Commission announced that the negotiations
between the relevant national authorities and Euroferro, the preferred bidder, had been unproductive, since
it proved impossible to come to an agreement, particularly regarding risk sharing between the public and
private sectors. The French and Spanish authorities plan to introduce a simplified selection procedure very
shortly so that a concession-holder can be ratified by the end of 2003.

Even though setting up the public-private partnership has caused some delays, the Commission can only
applaud the French and Spanish authorities’ decision to find an innovative funding solution, which it will
support with Community aid for the international section up to the maximum contribution authorised
under the current TEN Financial Regulation, i.e. 10 % of the total cost of the project.

Furthermore, on 23 April 2003, the Commission adopted a communication on initiating innovative
funding solutions for the trans-European transport network, encouraging public-private partnerships in
particular.

(1) Proposal to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 laying down general rules for the granting of Community

financial aid in the field of trans-European networks, OJ C 75, 26.3.2002.

(2004/C 33 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1155/03

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE)
and Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Telephone masts and the environment

The development of the third generation mobile communications market has fallen behind schedule, not
least because of the cost of creating infrastructures and public concerns over environment and health

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Official Journal of the European Union

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issues relating to the proliferation of masts. Nevertheless, it is in the interests both of industry, with a view
to creating jobs, and of end users for these services to be developed swiftly.

The European Parliament and the Council recently adopted Directives 2002/19/EC (1), 2002/20/EC (2),
2002/21/EC (3) and 2002/22/EC (4), which inter alia provide for the Member States to take action where
necessary to minimise the impact of the development of the electronic communications market on the
environment and landscape.

In its report COM(2002) 695, the Commission states that in principle it is in favour of sharing facilities
such as masts in order to speed up the marketing of broadband mobile services in a manner compatible
with the application of competition rules.

It is technologically possible to establish networks of masts in urban areas that would make it possible to
minimise the town-planning, environmental and economic impact by using optic fibre to connect an
individual device to a large number of ‘mini-masts’, which may be some distance apart from each other
and from the devices. The use of broadband and appropriate equipment will also make it possible to use
each of these mini-masts simultaneously for several operators and standards (GSM, UMTS, etc.), while their
extremely small size means that they could be attached, for example, to public lamp posts.

In the light of the above, will the Commission say how it views these technological possibilities? Will it
take any steps to advocate, facilitate and support solutions of this kind?

(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 7.
(2) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 21.
(3) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33.
(4) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2003)

The Commission shares the Honourable Members’ appreciation of the importance of achieving the rapid
development of advanced new mobile communications services across the Union. Its position in this
regard has been expressed in its previous Communications on the deployment of 3G services (1), as well as
in the 8th Report on the implementation of the telecommunications regulatory package referred to by the
Honourable Members.

The Commission has also expressed a favourable view,
in principle, towards arrangements by which
mobile network operators may achieve rapid deployment of new mobile services, including agreements on
the sharing of network infrastructure elements, provided that such arrangements are compatible with the
requirements of competition law. The Commission expects this issue to be discussed further amongst
European regulators in the coming months.

As regards the different technological possibilities for achieving an effective and timely roll-out of new
electronic communications services, the Commission welcomes any innovative methods of achieving this
end in a way that is compatible with environmental and other public interest objectives. Indeed, through
the 6th Framework Research and Technological Development Programme, the Commission has set aside
some EUR 3,6 billion towards the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme for research projects,
including mobile communications, under which industry may propose projects they consider relevant to
furthering broadband deployment in the Union, following specific calls for proposals. The Commission
welcomes any technical solution that may promote the Information Society. However, in line with the
principle of technological neutrality enshrined in the new Community regulatory framework for electronic
communications, it believes that the choice of technology lies essentially with the operators concerned.

(1) Communication on ‘The Introduction of Third Generation Mobile Communications in the European Union: State of
Play and the Way Forward’, COM(2001) 141 final, Communication: ‘Towards the full Roll-out of Third Generation
Mobile Communications’, COM(2002) 301 final.