do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1501/03 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Cruise control in trucks.
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: commercial vehicle, driving mechanism, electronics, road safety, transport policy, transport regulations

C 70 E/48

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1501/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Cruise control in trucks

Trucks regularly collide at high speed with queues of stationary or slow-moving vehicles. In Belgium,
during the proceedings of the States General for Road Safety, the subject of cruise control in trucks was
raised. Representatives of the police, municipal authorities and insurers, as well as politicians, agreed that
the use of the automatic pilot in trucks needed to be restricted. Truckers’ unions have also concluded that
cruise control causes a loss of alertness. It is therefore advocated that cruise control be banned in Belgium,
but because the use of cruise control is regulated at European level, a ban by Belgium alone would fail to
achieve its aim.

What view does the Commission take of the possibility of banning the use of cruise control in trucks?

Does the Commission agree with the conclusion reached in Belgium that cruise control causes a loss of
alertness in drivers and is therefore dangerous? What research findings does the Commission have
concerning the use of cruise control?

Will the Commission take steps with regard to the use of cruise control in trucks? If so, what information
can it provide on the subject?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2003)

The Commission has been informed about the discussion which has taken place in Belgium on the safety
of electronic automatic speed systems (cruise control) fitted to lorries.

However,
convenience for drivers, safety and the environment are negated by a loss of alertness in drivers.

it does not have any information to show that the benefits of cruise control

in terms of

It does not consider it advisable to ban the fitting or use of cruise control devices. It would ask Member
States which encounter any problems to let it know about their experience and, if necessary, to discuss the
need for a Community-level solution in meetings of experts designated for this purpose.

In any event, cruise control should only be used when traffic is moving smoothly. If necessary, the
Commission could encourage information campaigns to make sure that this technology is used properly.

The Commission is also closely monitoring the rapid development of technology for vehicle manufacturers
to combine cruise control with other equipment, such as systems which automatically check the distance
between a vehicle and the one in front.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 772/2003 of 5 May 2003 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: agri-monetary policy, citrus fruit, fruit vegetable, import price, perennial vegetable, pip fruit

6.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 112/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 772/2003

of 5 May 2003

establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and
vegetables

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

(2)

In compliance with the above criteria,
the standard
import values must be fixed at the levels set out in the
Annex to this Regulation,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 of
21 December 1994 on detailed rules for the application of the
import arrangements
last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 1947/2002 (2), and in parti-
cular Article 4(1) thereof,

fruit and vegetables (1), as

for

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Whereas:

(1)

Regulation (EC) No 3223/94 lays down, pursuant to the
outcome of the Uruguay Round multilateral trade nego-
tiations, the criteria whereby the Commission fixes the
standard values for imports from third countries,
in
respect of the products and periods stipulated in the
Annex thereto.

The standard import values referred to in Article 4 of Regula-
tion (EC) No 3223/94 shall be fixed as indicated in the Annex
hereto.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 6 May 2003.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 5 May 2003.

For the Commission

J. M. SILVA RODRÍGUEZ

Agriculture Director-General

(1) OJ L 337, 24.12.1994, p. 66.
(2) OJ L 299, 1.11.2002, p. 17.

L 112/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.5.2003

to the Commission Regulation of 5 May 2003 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry
price of certain fruit and vegetables

ANNEX

CN code

0702 00 00

0707 00 05

0709 90 70

0805 10 10, 0805 10 30, 0805 10 50

0805 50 10

0808 10 20, 0808 10 50, 0808 10 90

Third country code (1)

Standard import value

(EUR/100 kg)

052
204
212
999

052
204
999

052
204
999

052
204
220
600
624
999

052
999

060
388
400
404
508
512
524
528
720
804
999

92,4
91,4
110,8
98,2

111,4
97,2
104,3

100,5
101,8
101,2

85,2
44,7
46,6
50,6
78,2
61,1

27,8
27,8

64,5
92,4
142,7
98,9
83,5
85,1
72,9
84,9
78,2
120,8
92,4

(1) Country nomenclature as fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2020/2001 (OJ L 273, 16.10.2001, p. 6). Code ‘999’ stands for

‘of other origin’.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1505/03 by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Toys in foodstuffs.
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: accident in the home, confectionery product, consumer policy, consumer protection, product safety

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/201

(2003/C 268 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1475/03

by Carlos Lage (PSE) to the Commission

(30 April 2003)

Subject: Free gifts offered with food products

In the wake of the deaths in recent years of children from suffocation, a number of more socially
responsible manufacturers have voluntarily taken potentially dangerous products off the market:

Nestlé withdrew its ‘Magic Ball’ product (a chocolate-covered plastic ball with a Disney character

1.
inside) on the grounds that toys inside food products are considered extremely dangerous;

In Denmark and the UK, the Onken yoghurt containing a toy was voluntarily withdrawn from the

2.
market;

In Finland, an Austrian-made product (a chocolate egg containing a surprise gift) was also taken off

3.
the market.

Nonetheless, unscrupulous manufacturers are (in what is no doubt another marketing ploy aimed at
increasing product sales) continuing to advertise and sell food products containing toys which could cause
fatal accidents and gravely damage family life.

What specific measures does the Commission intend to take in the interests of consumer protection in the
Union?

(2003/C 268 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1505/03

by Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Toys in foodstuffs

The most recent fatal accidents caused by toys (or parts thereof) in food products involved:

1.

2.

an eighteen-month-old child,
September 2002, according to a report published by the Swedish Consumer Institute;

the daughter of a surgeon, who died of asphyxia in Sweden in

a five-year-old girl, the daughter of a nurse, who died of asphyxia in Turkey in January 2003,
according to a report published in the Turkish press and by the ANEC (European Association for the
Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation).

In view of all this, can the Commission explain why there is no specific legislation to protect European
consumers?

(2003/C 268 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1552/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: Toys in foodstuffs

In view of the fatal accidents in which children have died of asphyxia in the last few years, some of the
more conscientious manufacturers have voluntarily withdrawn potentially dangerous products from the
market:

(cid:1) Nestlé withdrew its ‘Magic Ball’ (a chocolate-covered plastic ball containing a figurine of a Disney

character) because toys inside food products are considered extremely dangerous;
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1507/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Bankruptcy of Grundig AG and how to safeguard jobs in Portugal.
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Portugal, cessation of trading, job preservation, labour market, multinational enterprise

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/203

Any new factor arising from this information will be examined to determine whether initiatives should be
taken at Community level.

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002.
(2) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.

(2003/C 268 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1507/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Bankruptcy of Grundig AG and how to safeguard jobs in Portugal

The media have reported that Grundig AG filed for bankruptcy at the district court of Nuremberg,
Germany, on 14 April 2003.

Grundig currently controls the ‘Car InterMedia System’ (CIS) in Braga, Portugal, which employs around
700 workers, produces car radios and accounts for about 30 % of the production of Fehst Componentes
Lda, which has more than 300 employees. All this demonstrates the viability and self-sufficiency of CIS.

Grundig has a substantial impact on employment and regional development in the Braga area, hence our
concern at the decisions taken in Germany. It should be borne in mind that there are no alternative jobs
and that the relocation of other multinationals in the north of the country has helped to aggravate the
unemployment situation.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. what Community support the Grundig Group has received, in particular the Car InterMedia System,

and what the terms of this support are;

2. what steps will be taken to safeguard the activity of CIS in Braga and the jobs it provides directly or
indirectly, bearing in mind that Portugal currently has the highest rate of unemployment in the
European Union?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2003/C 268 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1561/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Implementation of Anti-Discrimination at Work Directive

Could the Commission indicate how many, if any, Member States have applied or plan to apply to avail
themselves of the extra three year period to implement the provisions in the areas of disability and age
discrimination of the Anti-Discrimination at Work Directive (cid:1) Directive 2000/78/EC (1) (cid:1) adopted by the
Council in November 2000, which has to be implemented by the end of 2003 at the latest, and if so,
could it outline what reasons, if any, have been given to justify these delays?

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.