Economic losses suffered by city dwellers and shops

16.1.2009

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0264/09
by Erminio Enzo Boso (UEN)
to the Council

The City of Bologna has authorised the implementation of the CIVIS guided public transport project in the historic centre of the city, radically altering traffic patterns and causing inconvenience to the people who live and work in the districts concerned.

Many anti-CIVIS associations pointed out that this new EU‑funded project would give rise to problems not only in terms of its impact on traffic and the environment, but also in the form of the inconvenience suffered by shop owners, who for many years have been forced to put up with noisy and obstructive road works being carried out immediately in front of their premises.

Did the EU carry out the requisite research and checks before granting funding to Bologna City Council?

Does the EU intend to investigate whether the claims made by local associations in Bologna concerning the daily inconvenience and financial losses caused by the project, problems for which the EU must be held responsible, are justified?

Do innovative projects always benefit local communities?

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010