91999E2467

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2467/99

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Travel to European Parliament part-sessions in Strasbourg

Parliament holds part-sessions in Strasbourg once a month. To that end, a huge number of officials and other staff are required to travel from Brussels or Luxembourg to Strasbourg. A large proportion of those travelling on mission in this way go by car.

- How many staff overall travel every month from Brussels or Luxembourg to Strasbourg?

- How many of the staff in question go by car?

- How high are the total costs (including the cost of overnight stays, meals, etc.) resulting from the removal to Strasbourg?

- Are there records concerning, or is it known, whether or how often Commission staff are involved in road accidents during such journeys?

- Is it known whether there have already been cases of death or serious injury resulting from road accidents during such journeys?

- Are there records of costs caused by accidents?

- Do the accident statistics for the days of travel to and from Strasbourg deviate from those for other days?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2000)

In 1998, which is the last full year for which complete figures are available, Commission officials from Brussels and Luxembourg undertook 2705 missions to Strasbourg in connection with duties related to the meetings of the European Parliament. These missions cost a total of 1,3 million in the year, and 124 of them took place by car. The Commission is not aware of any accidents during missions to Strasbourg by car. The Commission does not, therefore, have any details relating to accidents, injuries or deaths.

The Commission does not have detailed accident statistics for the relevant stretches of the Belgian, Luxembourg and French road systems which would enable calculations of relative accident rates to be made.