WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/03 by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. EU funding possibilities for electricity grid connections.
Date: 2003-07-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF, EU financing, Scotland, Wales, co-financing, electricity supply, energy grid, water supply

C 51 E/244

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

(2004/C 51 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2395/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Implementation of the Anti-Discrimination at Work Directive (cid:1) Directive 2000/78/EC

Could the Commission name the Member State(s) that has(have) applied to make use of the additional
period allowed under Article 18 of Council Directive 2000/78/EC (1) to implement the provisions of the
Directive on age and disability discrimination or have indicated that they are considering making use of
this period? What is the Commission’s view of the failure of Member States to indicate their reasons for
making use of this period?

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

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

Article 18 paragraph 2 of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general
framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation states:
‘In order to take account of
particular conditions, Member States, may, if necessary have an additional period of three years from
2 December 2003, that is to say a total of 6 years, to implement the provisions of this Directive on age
and disability discrimination. In that event they shall inform the Commission forthwith. Any Member State
which chooses to use this additional period shall report annually to the Commission on the steps it is
taking to tackle age and disability discrimination and on the progress
is making towards
implementation’.

it

According to this provision the choice to make use of this additional period for the transposition of the
Directive as regards age and disability discrimination belongs to the Member States. The Commission’s
authorisation is therefore not needed. Nevertheless, when informing the Commission of its choice, the
Member State concerned must provide information on the ‘particular conditions’ which make it necessary
to defer the implementation date. Member States are, therefore, under a legal obligation to provide the
Commission with information on these ‘particular conditions’ which justify an additional period to
transpose the provisions on age and disability discrimination. Should Member States choose to make use
of this additional period, they are required to report annually to the Commission on the steps taken in
order to tackle age and disability discrimination. Taking account of the need to give an ‘effet utile’ to this
provision, a first report has to be sent by the implementation date of the Directive, i.e. 2 December 2003.

To date, only Denmark has formally indicated that it wishes to make use of an additional period of one
year until December 2004 to implement the provisions of Directive 2000/78/EC on the grounds of age
and disability.

(2004/C 51 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/03

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: EU funding possibilities for electricity grid connections

(21 July 2003)

It was recently reported that a small village in Wales used Objective 1 funding to help fund the connection
of a number of houses to the national grid electricity supply. Could the Commission confirm that the

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Objective 1 transitional programme in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland could be used for a similar
purpose? Could the Commission also confirm whether there are any other sources of EU funding that
could contribute to projects that aim to connect either homes, businesses or both to the national electricity
supply?

Could the Commission also answer the above questions but in relation to water supplies?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

The Single Programming Document of 2000-2006 Highlands & Islands Special Transitional Programme
stipulates that assistance from Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund can be available for the provision or upgrading of electricity and water supplies.

Concerning water supplies, a measure in the Programme is dedicated to waste management, water
provision and sewage treatment and pollution control. The aim of this measure is to improve water
provision and sewage treatment which benefits economic activity and better protects the environment.

The responsibility for deciding on the selection of projects co-financed by European Structural Funds lies
with the Regional Partnership in the Highlands & Islands (HIPP).

(2004/C 51 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2423/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Maximum permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream of a driver

The European Commission has launched a project with a view to bringing the Belgian BOB campaign to
the attention of the public in other EU Member States. This is a welcome move, but the problem here is
that there are sharp disparities in Member States’ legislation governing the maximum permitted level of
alcohol in the bloodstream of a driver.

Does the Commission take the view that there is a need for European legislation on this issue? Is it
planning to take any appropriate measures?

Can the Commission introduce Europe-wide harmonisation of the maximum permitted levels of alcohol in
the bloodstream of a driver? If so, what is the maximum level that the Commission is considering?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 2003)

In 1988 the Commission proposed a directive harmonising legal blood alcohol content (BAC) levels for
drivers. The proposal was never adopted by the Council or Parliament. On 17 January 2001 the
Commission adopted a recommendation on the maximum permitted blood alcohol content for drivers of
motorised vehicles (1), in order to establish guidelines at Community level.

At this stage, the Commission no longer plans to harmonise the maximum BAC levels permitted by the
Member States.

Efforts to curb drunken driving require action on several fronts (cid:1) the maximum permitted BAC is only
one aspect of this.