WRITTEN QUESTION E-1644/03 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU disabled parking.
Date: 2003-05-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, document, facilities for people with disabilities, parking area

C 11 E/204

Official Journal of the European Union

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15.1.2004

ratification might as well
instigated by the ILO in Geneva, on top of encouraging the subsistence of an uneven playing field.

jeopardise the consolidation process of all maritime Conventions recently

(1) Council Directive 1999/63/EC of 21 June 1999 concerning the Agreement on the organisation of working time of
seafarers concluded by the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and the Federation of Transport
Workers’ Unions in the European Union (FST), OJ L 167, 2.7.1999.

(2) Directive 1999/95/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 concerning the enforcement of
provisions in respect of seafarers’ hours of work on board ships calling at Community ports, OJ L 14, 20.1.2000.

(2004/C 11 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1643/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Composition of the control services in Greece

(16 May 2003)

It is well known that Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1) of 21 July 1999 set up the framework for
the administration, monitoring and financial control of the third CSF. The requirement for effective and
efficient management of Community funds derives from the letter and the spirit of this regulation. In order
to ensure that this Community requirement is adhered to, each Member State is obliged to create an
independent service which can intervene, detect and correct any irregularities and which will keep the
Commission informed.

In Greece the competent authorities are the EDEL (Committee on Budgetary Control) and the 51st and
52nd financial control departments, which are part (as is EDEL) of the Greek Ministry of Economic Affairs
technicians,
and are mainly staffed by administrative employees, and not by specialised agricultural
engineers, environmentalists etc., which would have made the relevant checks more substantial and
reliable.

Could the Commission forward to me the letters dated 13 June 2001 from the Ministry of Economic
Affairs to the Regional Policy Directorate-General, the letter with reference number 107569/14-8.2001
from the Regional Policy DG to the Greek authorities, the reply from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to
the Regional Policy DG’s document G.3/EM/103141/2-4-2002, D(2002) 830233, and the financial control
report by the Regional Policy DG for the Ionian islands ROP and the Epirus ROP?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2003)

The Honourable Member’s question relates to requests for access to documents. Such requests are
governed by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May
2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (1).

The Commission will appraise the Honourable Member’s request in accordance with the procedure laid
down in that Regulation.

(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001.

(2004/C 11 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1644/03

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Subject: EU disabled parking

Can the Commission clarify the rules in relation to EU disabled parking? What are the precise rules of use?
Where can individuals displaying a disabled parking sticker park? Are there any restrictions on the use of
this facility?

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2003)

The Union-model, parking card for disabled car users, has been progressively introduced throughout the
Union following the Council Recommendation 98/376/EC of 4 June 1998 on a parking card for people
with disabilities (1).

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the Recommendation confirmed that Member States
themselves would continue to be responsible for the conditions for granting parking cards. Article 1 of the
Council Recommendation stipulates in fact, that Member States should introduce a parking card in
accordance with their respective national provisions, on the basis of the standardised Community model
described in the annex of the Council Recommendation.

The Recommendation makes clear that the Member States themselves are responsible for issuing the cards
and these authorities are best placed to make clear to users how they should be displayed.

When in use, the card is normally to be displayed at the front of the vehicle in such a way that only the
front of the card is clearly visible for checking purposes.

The new card only requires holders to fill in individual details on the reverse side and not on the front.
This meets the concerns of some who feared that displaying their names publicly might threaten their
personal safety.

(1) OJ L 167, 12.6.1998.

(2004/C 11 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1648/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2003)

Subject: The Segway Human Transporter

The Segway Human Transporter was recently launched in Europe. It is an electric-powered scooter with
two wheels on a single axis on which people may travel along the pavement in an upright position. There
was great media interest in this new mode of transport in Belgium, while in the United States, too, the
manufacturers succeeded in creating extensive media hype by means of a well-orchestrated media
campaign. However,
it now appears that the Segway HT has been responsible for a large number of
accidents in the United States. The City of San Francisco has already banned the vehicle, while Oakland,
Santa Cruz and Sacramento are also considering the imposition of a similar ban.

What is the Commission’s opinion of the Segway HT?

In the Commission’s view, where should this vehicle be driven, on the pavement or on the cycle track?

Is the Commission thinking of conducting an inquiry into the Segway HT? If so, is it thinking of imposing
a ban on it?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2003)

The Community Directives on type-approval of motor vehicles, including Council Directive 92/61/EEC of
30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles (1) and Directive 2002/
24/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 March 2002 relating to the type-approval of two or
three-wheel motor vehicles (2), apply to vehicles intended to travel on the road, and to the components or
separate technical units of such vehicles. As stated by the manufacturer, the Segway Human Transporter is
equipped with two wheels and operated by battery power and is intended primarily for use on sidewalks
and other pedestrian areas such as interiors of buildings, parks and other public areas, but not intended to
travel on the road. It is therefore not within the scope of the above-mentioned Community Directives nor
within the scope of any other Community Directive for the type-approval of motor vehicles.