Road safety, prevention and a new directiveFatal road accident decreased in the European Union “but there is still a lot to do” for the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. In the beginning of the week, the Commission disclosed data on 2010 and the ten-year period 2001-2010, when nationally and at community level various safety initiatives have been implemented (road rules, vehicle safety, information and awareness campaigns). One year ago in July 2010, the Commission launched a road safety plan, based on seven priority goals, to be achieved by concerted action in the EU and its Member States. The seven objectives were: improve safety measures for trucks and cars, building safer roads, developing intelligent vehicles, strengthening licensing and training, better enforcement, targeting injuries, and a new focus on motorcyclists. Figures disclosed by the Executive show that last year accidents with one or more fatalities dropped by 11% as of 2009. A 43% cut in the last ten years. Overall the number of road fatalities dropped per one million inhabitants from 112 to 62. The main causes of fatal accidents are speeding, failing to stop at traffic lights failing to wear seatbelts, drink driving. However, country by country statistics varies greatly across the EU: from 100 deaths per one million inhabitants in Romania, Poland, Greece and Bulgaria, to 30 deaths per one million inhabitants in Sweden, The United Kingdom, Netherlands and Malta. The voting of road safety directive also included the European Parliament green light, during the plenary session July 4-7, to a directive that helps co-operation among cross border police and sharing of information to fight traffic violations. The directive’s goal- according to rapporteur Inès Ayala Sander “is to improve road safety, to reduce first of all the number of casualties and putting an end to the sense of impunity by some drivers, including the residents of another EU country”. According to the text (that has to be unanimously voted by the Council) the Member States will provide details of the driver or the vehicle registration certificate where the offence took place, “in order to start legal procedure”.Food labels: clearer information for consumer”The new rules are supposed to provide more and better information to consumers so they can make informed choices when buying”. German MEP Renate Sommer, rapporteur of the regulation approved on July 6th with a broad majority. “Energy content, as well as fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugar, protein and salt percentage, must be clearly visible on food labels” when the directive is enforced, concerted by Parliament and the Council. Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dali commented the voting: “It is an important step forward in our effort to further boost consumer empowerment and contribute to the fight against the rising levels of obesity and chronic diseases in the EU”. The regulation introduces inter alia, minimum font size for mandatory information to improve legibility for consumers: mandatory nutrition information to help consumers identify foods that meet their personal preferences or dietary requirements ” mandatory information of allergens on food, country-of-origin labelling for meat from pig, sheep, goat and poultry. Dali pointed out that the decision was the result of a compromise between the Parliament and Council: “I therefore regret to note that in some key areas the regulation does not go as we would have liked it to. For instance the initial proposal of the commission for nutrition labelling on the front of the packages has not been endorsed. The framework for the voluntary inclusion of nutrition information on the front pack is a step in the right direction”. The Maltese commissioner added: “I also regret to see alcoholic beverages have been at this stage exempted from the ingredient and nutrition labelling requirements”.
