Brussels, 19/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission announced a dozen or so infringement proceedings in the transport sector. Other than non-transposition into national law of directives on maritime safety (see EUROPE of 19 July, p.12), it took the following decisions:
Eurovignette: the Commission has sent reasoned opinions to Belgium, Germany, Spain, Greece, Ireland and Portugal, for not having notified measures on the transposition of the directive on "tax on heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures, so-called "eurovignette" that should have been transposed by 1 July 2000.
State aid for haulage companies: the Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Italy, as it has not recovered 142 million euro in aid granted in 1992 to professional haulage companies. The Court of Justice having noted in 1998 that Italy had not complied with the decision the Commission took in 1993 to ban this aid, Italy risks being condemned to a fine should the proceedings end up before the Court.
Shipping: the Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Italy and a letter of warning to Portugal for not having complied with the regulation on the free provision of shipping services in the EU. It regards as incompatible with European legislation agreements reserving the transport of freight to contracting parties, concluded between Portugal and Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the FRY, and between Italy and China. Italy and Portugal have two months to respond. Portugal, which has already been condemned by the Court, risks a financial penalty should the proceedings go further.
Maritime cabotage services: the Commission has sent reasoned opinions to Greece and Portugal for not having complied with legislation of the liberalisation of cabotage in the EU. The two Member States have two months in which to reply.
Transport of hazardous goods: the Commission has decided to haul Ireland, Italy and Greece before the Court of Justice for not having notified measures transposing the 1999 directive on the transport of hazardous goods by road. It has sent a reasoned opinion to Austria for the same facts.
Roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles: the Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Austria and Ireland, which did not transpose by the 1 October 2000 deadline, Directive 1999/52 on the roadworthiness tests for diesel engine vehicles emissions.
Ground-handling services at airports: the Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Italy for not having complied with Directive 96/67 that liberalises ground-handling services at airports. According to the Commission, the Italian legislation does not comply with the 7-year concession provided by the directive, and introduces clauses on the protection of employees that do not comply with the European text either.