WRITTEN QUESTION P-0198/04 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Creation of a Community body for the study of unexplained atmospheric phenomena.
Date: 2004-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, meteorology, space policy

C 84 E/546

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0622)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0194/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 January 2004)

Subject: Flight and duty time limitations for airline pilots

While being committed to the cause of aviation safety, and a supporter of the goal to harmonise flight and
duty time limitations (FTL) within the EU, some criticism of the current proposals governing FTL has come
to my attention.

In light of
independently assessed on a medical/scientific basis?

this criticism, what plans does the Commission have to get

the Simpson proposals

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2004)

The Commission finalised on 10 February 2004 an amended proposal for a Regulation amending Council
technical requirements and administrative
Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 on the harmonisation of
procedures in the field of civil aviation (1). This new proposal integrates, under Annex III, Subpart Q, the
Flight Time Limitation scheme proposed by the Parliament (2). In addition, the Commission proposes to
add a new article to Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (3)
introducing a revision of the aforementioned
Subpart Q based on a scientific and medical evaluation of its provisions to be carried out by the European
Aviation Safety Agency.

After the future extension of the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) tasks to air operations, as
provided by Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 (4), the Commission will require EASA to proceed
to this scientific and medical assessment.

(1) OJ C 311 E, 31.10.2000, as modified by the amended proposal presented by the Commission pursuant to

Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty, OJ C 227 E, 24.9.2002.

(2) Report No A5-0263/2002 of 10.7.2002.
(3) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and

administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation, OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 of the Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2002 on common rules in the field

of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, OJ L 240, 7.9.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0623)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0198/04

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Creation of a Community body for the study of unexplained atmospheric phenomena

For a long time now, sightings of unexplained atmospheric phenomena have been reported in all corners
of the globe.

Some of these phenomena have been classified as ‘unidentified flying objects’ (UFOs), sightings of which
not only cause considerable perplexity but also fuel theories (cid:1) so far lacking any foundation (cid:1) on the
probable existence of aliens.

The serious study of
the phenomena in question by various European space centres and research
establishments warrants special attention from the European Commission, since these phenomena do not
fall within the scope of individual Member State competence.

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/547

In the light of the above, would the Commission not consider it appropriate to promote and coordinate
research and information on unexplained atmospheric phenomena at a Europe-wide level, possibly
assigning this responsibility to a specialised and experienced body such as SEPRA (Service d’Expertise des
Phénomènes Rares Aérospatiaux) in Toulouse or the European Space Agency?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2004)

Following an extensive consultation for the development of the European Space Policy (‘Green Paper’) (1)
the Commission adopted in December 2003 a White Paper entitled ‘Space: a new European frontier for an
expanding Union’ (2).

The White Paper, which has been prepared in close collaboration with the scientific community and the
European Space Agency, sets an action plan for implementing the future European Space policy. The
actions recommended by the Commission to strengthen European excellence in space science are
presented in Section 4.2.

On 28 January 2004, the Commission had the opportunity to address some of these issues in its oral reply
to the oral question O-84/03 during Parliament’s January 2004 session (3) on the content of the White
Paper.

One specific activity which may be of particular interest to the Honourable Member concerns an action
recently launched in the context of the 6th Framework Programme for Research (4). This action aims at
promoting cooperation between Europe’s national research funding agencies and national research
organisations. It includes a task specifically addressing European solar terrestrial and atmospheric research.
This endeavour should help to improve the level of understanding of atmospheric phenomena and to
provide space weather services.

(1) COM(2003) 17 final.
(2) COM(2003) 673 final.
(3) Oral reply, 28.1.2004.
(4) Specific Support Action: European Science Foundation Collaborative Research Programmes Scheme (Eurocores).

(2004/C 84 E/0624)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0199/04

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Ethnic census

The European Commission has launched Community infringements proceedings against the Italian State
with regard to the application, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, of rules relating to the ethnic
census that are considered to conflict with the Treaty on European Union. The grounds for these
proceedings include serious violations of the privacy of citizens, who are obliged to declare, alongside their
names, the ethnic group to which they belong and to supply other cultural and political information
relating to their persons. The compulsory nature of this declaration is also considered to entail violations
of the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunities, proclaimed in the Charter of Fundamental
Rights, for citizens belonging to ethnic groups and different cultures or religions and speaking different
languages.