WRITTEN QUESTION E-2878/03 by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Council. Technical inspection of the systems for indirect vision used on commercial vehicles.
Date: 2003-09-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: motor car, product quality, roadworthiness tests, safety device, statistics, transport regulations, vehicle parts

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/761

Reply

(4 March 2004)

The Council is aware of the limited reception capacity for illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers in Malta,
which has led to overcrowding. The Council underlines, however, that although a suitable solution has yet
to be found, the Maltese authorities are making efforts to ensure that reception conditions for illegal
immigrants and asylum-seekers are as decent as circumstances allow, given the sheer pressure of numbers.
In this context, the conditions under which asylum-seekers are held must be evaluated in close connection
with Malta’s real (and limited) reception ability.

It should be noted, however, that the Council will monitor closely the situation regarding the reception
conditions for illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers in Malta, as it is doing for all the acceding States, in
order to ensure that the requirements of the acquis are being met. This monitoring will continue until the
day of accession. Furthermore, the situation in reception centres is also expected to be covered in the
Commission’s comprehensive monitoring reports on each acceding State’s preparations for accession to be
presented to the Council on 5 November 2003.

(2004/C 78 E/0809)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2878/03

by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Council

(29 September 2003)

Subject: Technical inspection of the systems for indirect vision used on commercial vehicles

According to press reports, only 1,02 % of commercial vehicles in Belgium fail their technical inspection
test because of badly-positioned or inadequate systems for indirect vision. 4,64 % of such vehicles are
driven away, despite a defect being registered, but they are not required to undergo a second test. In the
Netherlands, police checks showed that 85 % of systems for indirect vision are not properly adjusted
(Source: Goca).

In the interim,
manufacturers are developing technology whereby sensors warn drivers of such vehicles about
presence of persons or objects which cannot be observed by direct vision.

technological development has not been standing still. Major commercial vehicle
the

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) will the procedures laid down in Directive 77/143/EEC (1) and those which will be laid down in
legislation adopted on the basis of COM(1999) 458 (98/0097(COD)) (2) also apply to systems for
indirect vision which are to be installed in accordance with the requirements to be laid down when
the Council approves amendments to Directive 70/156/EEC (3), as set out in COM(2001) 811 (2001/
0317(COD)) (4);

(cid:1) do the procedures laid down in Directive 77/143/EEC and those which will be laid down in legislation
adopted on the basis of COM(1999) 458 (98/0097(COD)) also apply to systems for indirect vision
already installed in accordance with the requirements laid down in national legislation adopted in
advance of Council approval of amendments to Directive 70/156/EEC, as set out in COM(2001) 811
(2001/0317(COD));

(cid:1) is the Council considering amendments to current legislation and to the proposals for legislation
currently before the Council with a view to authorising sensor-based systems for indirect vision;

(cid:1) has the Council any statistics relating to the positioning, quality of positioning and quality of installed

systems for indirect vision?

(1) OJ L 47, 8.2.1977, p. 47.
(2) OJ C 116 E, 26.4.2000, p. 7.
(3) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.
(4) OJ C 126 E, 28.5.2002, p. 225.

C 78 E/762

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Reply

(4 March 2004)

The Council would ask the Honourable Member to refer all of these questions directly to the Commission.

(2004/C 78 E/0810)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2880/03

by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Council

(29 September 2003)

Subject: Bicycle theft

Every year, enormous numbers of bicycles are stolen. Many are stolen for individual use, but large
numbers of bicycles are also fed into stolen-goods circuits, some of which operate on an international
scale.

Belgian research shows that bicycle theft is the ‘daily bread’ of criminals who are involved in more serious
crime. Bicycle theft is the most widespread form of crime in Europe.

Plans which the bicycle industry wanted to develop in response to requests from consumer associations
and the European Cyclists’ Federation, which involved the standardisation of serial numbers, identity chips
and obligatory U-locks, have come to nought.

The Council:

(cid:1) does it have any accurate information about the number of bicycles stolen in the various Member

States and about where such stolen goods finish up;

(cid:1) does it acknowledge the impact of mass bicycle theft on the attractiveness of the bicycle as a

sustainable mode of transport and on an individual’s feeling of insecurity;

(cid:1) is it, together with the bicycle industry, planning to take measures to prevent bicycle theft?

Reply

(4 March 2004)

The Council shares the opinion of the Honourable Member of the European Parliament that bicycle
1.
theft has an impact on the attractiveness of the bicycle as a mode of transport and on citizens’ feeling of
insecurity.

The Council has no information about the number of bicycles stolen in the Member States and where

2.
the stolen bicycles finish up.

3.

As concerns measures to prevent bicycle theft, the Council draws attention to:

(a) Council Resolution of 27.5.1999 on combating international crime with fuller cover of the routes
used (1). This Resolution aims at improving practical cooperation between police services in the
Member States in order to combat a specific form of crime on the basis of a coordinated policy;

(b) Council Decision 2001/427/JHA of 28.5.2001 setting up a European crime prevention network (2).
This network has the task to contribute to developing the various aspects of crime prevention
activities.

(1) OJ C 162, 9.6.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 153, 8.6.2001, p. 1.