PR(07)26: Iceland and Norway fail to implement EU legislation concerning tunnels
The EFTA Surveillance Authority today sent reasoned opinions to Iceland and Norway over their failure to implement a Directive [1] concerning minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network.
The Directive requires that all tunnels longer than 500 meters on the Trans European Road Network meet minimum safety requirements and aims to prevent accidents endangering human life, the environment and tunnel installations. Moreover, it aims at improving self-rescue conditions for people involved in serious accidents.
The Directive defines standards relating to the organisation, the roles and responsibilities of the various bodies in charge of tunnel safety. Furthermore, the Directive establishes technical standards for tunnel infrastructure, operation, traffic rules and user information.
Under Article 7 of the EEA Agreement, Iceland and Norway are obliged to implement all acts referred to in the Annexes to the EEA Agreement. The Directive should have been implemented in national law by 11 March 2006. The purpose of the reasoned opinion is to give Iceland and Norway a last chance to adopt the legislation necessary to implement the Directive before the case is referred to the EFTA Court.
[1] Directive 2004/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Hallgrimur Asgeirsson
Director, Internal Market Affairs
Tel. (+32)(0)2 286 18 60; or
Deputy Director, Internal Market Affairs
Tel. (+)(0)2 286 18 64
27 June 2007
