WRITTEN QUESTION E-1685/03 by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Digital tachographs.
Date: 2003-05-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, approval, commercial vehicle, driving period, road transport, speed control, vehicle parts

C 33 E/154

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2003)

On fishing effort in division X, the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commission’s reply to his
Written Question E-1849/02 (1). The Commission reiterates its position set out in that reply on application
of Council Regulation (EC) No 2340/2002 of 16 December 2002 fixing for 2003 and 2004 the fishing
opportunities for deep-sea fish stocks.

The new terms of access to the division in question will
arrangements now before the Council (2).

form part of the new ‘Western Waters’

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003.
(2) COM(2002) 739 final.

(2004/C 33 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1685/03

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 May 2003)

Subject: Digital tachographs

With the adoption of Regulation 2135/98 (1) it was decided that a new generation of digital tachographs
would be introduced in the European Union. The regulation can only come into force when the technical
specifications in Annex 1B are adopted and published. This has taken place in the form of Regulation
1360/2002 (2), published in Official Journal L 207 of 5 August 2002.

In the basic regulation 2135/98 certain periods of time are laid down for the introduction of the digital
tachograph. These periods begin on the day of publication of Regulation 1360/2002. They relate to
installation of digital tachographs in newly licensed vehicles (24 months according to Article 2(1)(a)), the
issuing of driver cards by the Member States (21 months according to Article 2(2)) and component type-
approval (12 months according to Article 2(3)).

How does the Commission assess compliance with these deadlines at present? What is the Commission’s
assessment of the situation as regards type-approval? What steps will the Commission take if type-approval
has not been issued by 5 August 2003? When will the Commission launch the codecision procedure to set
new deadlines, in accordance with Article 2(3) of Regulation 2135/98, should it become clear in advance
of 5 August 2003 that type-approval will not be available in time to meet the deadline? What alternative
ways has the Commission considered of ensuring that digital tachometers are introduced? What is the
Commission’s assessment of the situation as regards the issue of driver cards by the European Union
Member States in time to meet the deadline?

(1) OJ L 274, 9.10.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 207, 5.8.2002.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2003)

The procedure for type approval is described in Annex 1B to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1360/2002
of 13 June 2002 adapting for the seventh time to technical progress Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85
in road transport (1). A type approval certificate can only be granted if a
on recording equipment
manufacturer successively holds a security certificate, a functional certificate and an interoperability
certificate. To obtain an interoperability certificate manufacturers need to follow an exceptional procedure
which can take several months. At present, none of the tachograph and card manufacturers have started
the interoperability procedure. This leads to the conclusion that there will probably be no type approval

6.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

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certificate on 5 August 2003 (12 months after the publication of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1360/
2002). However, the Commission could expect that the first type approval will be granted before the end
of the year.

The submission by the Commission of a proposal for an extension of the implementation deadlines would
in all likelihood considerably delay the introduction of the digital tachograph. Considering the apparent
abuses of the current analogue tachograph with its negative consequences on road safety, the Commission
is of the opinion that the digital tachograph needs to be introduced as soon as possible. Therefore, the
Commission intends to revaluate the situation, when the first manufacturers will have obtained a type
approval later in 2003.

In order to help Member States to implement
Commission is supporting two projects.

the digital

tachograph before 5 August 2004,

the

The first project, initiated by the French ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing, deals with the
issuing of tachograph cards. The timely issuing of tachograph cards is of utmost importance for the
successful introduction of the digital tachograph. One of the key elements of this project is TACHOnet, a
system enabling the exchange of information between national administrations responsible for the issuing
of tachograph cards and the enforcement of driving and rest times of professional drivers. The design
phase of TACHOnet was recently completed. Member States will now start the implementation phase.

in a more general

The second project, initiated by the Swedish National Road Administration, deals with implementation
for workshops,
issues
recommendations for transport companies on data management and for enforcers on road side and
company checks.

such as approval conditions and instructions

sense,

These projects will effectively help the Member States to implement the digital tachograph.

(1) OJ L 207, 5.8.2002.

(2004/C 33 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1702/03

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

Subject: Environmental impact of the Arenas-Molledo and Pesquera-Reinosa sections and Molledo-Pesquera

sub-section of the Cantabria-Meseta motorway (Cantabria, Spain)

The projected route of the Cantabria-Meseta motorway, and in particular of the Arenas-Molledo, Pesquera-
Reinosa and Molledo-Pesquera sections, has caused great concern among local
inhabitants, citizens’
associations and the public at large, owing to its lack of respect for the countryside and especially for the
Saja National Reserve, and to the destruction of an large proportion of the area’s historical heritage.
Numerous irregularities have occurred, such as the continuation of work on the Arenas-Molledo sub-
section before the Directorate-General for Environmental Quality and Assessment had reached its decision,
and the occupation of land without the requisite compulsory purchase order.

The environmental impact assessments conducted have lacked rigour, and the construction of the Corrales-
including the obliteration of
Arenas de Iguña section of the motorway has had serious repercussions,
Monte Fresneda, the Muriago watercourse and a Roman road.

Is the Commission aware of this situation? What measures will it take to guarantee the application, in the
case in point, of Community legislation on the environment, and more specifically of Directive 85/337/
EEC (1) on environmental
impact assessments and Directive 92/43/EEC (2) on the protection of natural
habitats and wild fauna and flora?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.