WRITTEN QUESTION E-1722/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Obstacles to North-South rail travel as a result of the territory of the former Yugoslavia being split between three of the eight European Interrail zones.
Date: 2003-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Yugoslavia, carriage of passengers, organisation of transport, provision of services, rail transport, technical barriers to trade, ticket

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they nevertheless
The other nine Länder were in the same situation as regards project organisers;
concluded agreements in accordance with the above-mentioned financial rules. This shows that one cannot
speak of general delays and that, from the Commission’s point of view, the procedures applied in 2003 (cid:1)
although difficult (cid:1) have proved effective.

The situation in the other Member States is somewhat different. Where grants were planned, delays
occurred while legal commitments were brought into line with the new Financial Regulation. In this
context, it has to be kept in mind that ‘Europe Week’ is a special event for the German Länder.

The Commission regrets that the posters for 9 May were late in reaching the Honourable Member.
400 000 posters were printed at a cost of EUR 26 860 in response to requests from distributors
throughout Europe.

(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the

general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities.

(2004/C 58 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1722/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Obstacles to North-South rail travel as a result of the territory of the former Yugoslavia being split

between three of the eight European Interrail zones

Is the Commission aware that passes issued by UIC-CIT,

1.
the international European railways
organisation, for unlimited travel within one or more European countries, known as Interrail, Scanrail,
Euro Domino and Eurail, were initially intended only for tourism, in particular for young people under the
age of 26, but have now become attractive as alternative tickets for destinations in countries for which
normal rail tickets are no longer available in the passenger’s country of residence?

Is the Commission also aware that the current division of Europe into eight Interrail zones has
2.
resulted in the former Yugoslavia being split between three different zones, namely Slovenia in zone G
together with Italy, Greece and Turkey, Croatia in zone D with Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary,
and Serbia-Montenegro with Macedonia in zone H together with Romania and Bulgaria?

3. What is the Commission’s view of the fact that although this arrangement is good for travel between
Poland and Croatia it is highly damaging to the previously frequent North-South rail travel via the former
Yugoslavia, as passengers are obliged to buy more expensive or less easily obtainable tickets:

(a) On the route between Austrian and Greece passengers have two travel through four zones. On this
fairly short journey, the highest Interrail tariff, covering all eight zones, is automatically applied.

(b) An alternative is the advance purchase of a series of Euro Domino tickets, valid for several days, for all
the countries en route for which separate rail tickets are no longer sold elsewhere in order to obtain a
valid ticket for entry to Greece.

(c) The cheapest but most inconvenient solution is to break the journey to buy tickets at Belgrade station,
or possibly at Zagreb or Ljubljana. This involves paying cash in currencies other than the euro.

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Is the Commission prepared to take action to ensure that through train tickets are once again
4.
obtainable, for example by bringing the whole of the former Yugoslavia within Interrail zone G (Slovenia-
Greece) or ensuring that through train tickets for Greece are put back on sale in Germany, Austria and
Hungary?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

The Commission has taken note of the increased possibilities for the travel passes issued by European
Railway Undertakings, such as the Interrail, Scanrail, EuroDomino and Eurail cards, notably the possibility
for persons over 26 years to use this card, as well as the grouping of countries into different zones.
Validity, scope and conditions of use are determined by the European Railway Undertakings and the
provisions of the CIV/CIT, and have to be left to the decisions of the railway undertakings, whose
management independence should be ensured according to the provisions of Council Directive 91/440/
EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community’s railways (1), unless Member States have
imposed public service obligations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of 26 June 1969 on
action by Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in
transport by rail, road and inland waterway (2), providing for other terms of use.

It should be observed though that the Commission can table proposals to determine the framework
conditions under which the market for international rail passengers services can operate, as it has
announced in its workprogramme for 2003 (3). In line with the opinion of the Parliament on the second
railway package, expressed in its plenary session in January 2003, the Commission will look at the extent
to which freedom to provide international railway services inside the Union should be completed.
in the preparatory works for the proposal for a Regulation on Passengers’ Rights and
Furthermore,
Obligations in International Rail Services,
the Commission envisages to include provisions requiring
railway undertakings offering rail passenger services between major railway stations to co-operate in
offering throughtickets on a single transport contract to passengers.

(1) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, as amended by Directive 2001/12/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February

2001, OJ L 75, 15.3.2001.

(2) OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1893/91 of 20 June 1991, OJ L 169,

29.6.1991.

(3) The Commission will table a proposal for a Regulation on Passengers’ Rights and Obligations in International rail
services as well as a proposal for a Directive to gradually open the market for international passenger services by
rail.

(2004/C 58 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1724/03

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Subject: Contracts between the Commission and companies owned by Mr Ojo, such as Eurogramme
Limited, Eurogramme Limited (succursale), Eurogramme Sarl and Calethon Holdings SA

Commission services have, to date, signed more than 70 contracts with different companies belonging to a
Mr Ojo. The first contract was signed in 1996 with Eurogramme Limited (UK), despite the fact that the
company gave false financial information (confirmed by an internal audit report and OLAF) Eurostat has
subsequently signed another 52 contracts with Eurogramme Limited.

In 1997, Mr Ojo created Eurogramme Limited (succursale) in Luxembourg, of which the legal base parent
company is registered in the UK. This company was closed down in 2002. In May 2001, Mr Ojo created a
new company in Luxembourg, Eurogramme sarl. However,
in 2003, the parent company in the UK
transferred its stockholding in the Luxembourg entity (Eurogramme Sarl.) to Calethon Holdings SA (former
My-Fal S.A.).