91998E0868

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0868/98

by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Alpine transit

The Commission would like to submit a proposal for the harmonization of the prohibitions relating to the use of heavy goods vehicles at weekends and on public holidays. Only eight Member States have restrictions on the use of HGVs, which differ, Austria having the strictest legislation. This regulation will therefore have far-reaching implications.

Does the Commission see any way of retaining the prohibition of the use of HGVs on Saturdays, which is so important for Austria, and if not, in what circumstances might there be exceptions?

Austria has most public holidays in the EU, and a numerical ceiling would have lasting implications for Austria. Can the Commission say whether there are plans to take account of the large number of Austrian public holidays, and what form might this take in practice?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 1998)

The Honourable Member refers to a recent Commission proposal for a directive to harmonise rules governing driving bans on heavy goods vehicles(1).

The proposal, if adopted, will allow Member States to have driving bans on Saturdays if they wish. Indeed, driving bans of any duration will continue to be permitted as at present on all roads other than the trans European road network.

However, the proposed legislation would only allow bans exceeding the period 07h00-22h00 (24h00 in summer) on Sundays and holidays on the trans European network after justification on objective grounds and following prior approval by the Commission. The proposal specifies the criteria on the basis of which bans can be justified. These can be on road safety, environmental or social grounds.

The proposal does not in any way affect the number of public holidays in Member States. It simply requires that any Member State wishing to impose driving bans on public holidays on the trans European road network should inform the Commission in advance of the days and roads affected.

(1) COM(98) 115.