Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-03-Speech-3-098"
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"en.20000503.6.3-098"2
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"Mr President, in the first half of the previous century, many opinion formers claimed that the air offered enough space for unlimited growth in international transport. There was ground congestion and new infrastructure was very expensive, but anything was still possible in the air. Meanwhile, the countries at the heart of the European Union have been faced with unexpected problems. Thanks to free competition, record low prices and cheap, tax-free fuel, the airspace has become overcrowded there. Gigantic airports emerged near Paris, London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam with a great deal of transit movement for travellers from outside Europe. These airports continue to grow and they place a huge burden on their surroundings. Not only do those living near the airports complain, passengers too are dissatisfied. They are increasingly faced with delays. The air has more or less reached capacity levels in that respect. Thanks to new navigation techniques and low-noise aircraft, it may be possible to increase the number of flights for a little while longer, but this will inevitably have an adverse effect on the environment, safety and the reliability of the service.
We have reached the limits of growth. Further growth of freight and passenger transport will need to be accommodated by alternative means: by rail or on water. Meanwhile, however, competition between air traffic – which is favoured by government policy – and trains and ships has become fierce. This is why the proportion of international train traffic and freight transport by river and canal has dropped so dramatically. There are considerably fewer international through train connections within the European Union compared to 20 years ago. In the remote areas of the European Union, however, it seems as if time has stood still there. People still complain there that remote regions and islands are not sufficiently serviced. New, small airports are expected to perform miracles as they could attract rich business people and masses of tourists. What is more, the areas surrounding the Mediterranean tourist beaches are also increasingly afflicted by accidents, noise and air pollution, and nature reserves are being sacrificed.
During the discussion on Mr Sterckx’s report, it has already transpired in the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism, as well as from amendments tabled on this topic, that opinion is strongly divided on this matter within Parliament. Certain Members favour an increase in the number of aircraft, the lifting of all legal restrictions in this connection and continued reductions in air fares. I hear this opinion mainly from those Members who endlessly complain within the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism that their flight was once again delayed and who are very much guided by these personal experiences in their vision of transport policy. According to other Members, air traffic has grown far too much over the past decades. In their view, the conservation and protection of the natural environment are far more important than fast or cheap transport, and air traffic has already supplanted far too much rail traffic. It is high time that the safety and health of passengers, personnel and population on the ground were made the top priority.
My Group is very much in favour of the second opinion, relating to the environment, safety and the interests of personnel. Air traffic cannot continue to grow endlessly and we cannot afford to subordinate all kinds of other matters to this. We consider that Mr Sterckx’s report falls short of being able to solve the actual problems but it is a first step in the right direction. I am pleased that the rapporteur seemed prepared to adopt a number of amendments concerning safety and the environment at an early stage."@en1
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