Mr President, I voted for this report, not just because of Mr Hatzidakis' remarkable abilities as Committee Chairman and expert on European Union transport regulations, but also because, as the representative of the Pensioners' Party in Italy, I am pleased to note that, by allowing 15-metre-long buses, which can hold 67 instead of 50 passengers, to travel on European roads, the cost of travelling would and will be reduced for elderly people who travel by coach, not just to come here to Strasbourg but also to travel anywhere in the European Union, in the manner which we already encourage but should do still more to promote.
Hr. formand, jeg stemte ikke alene for denne betænkning på grund af hr. Hatzidakis' betydelige evner som formand for udvalget og kender af EU's transportlovgivning, men også fordi jeg som repræsentant for Pensionistpartiet i Italien har den glæde at konstatere, at man ved at give færdselstilladelse i Europa til 15 meter lange busser, hvor der er plads til 67 passagerer i stedet for 50, vil mindske rejseomkostningerne for de ældre, der rejser med bus, ikke bare for at tage til Strasbourg, men også for at rejse rundt i hele EU. De praktiserer således den ældreturisme, som vi allerede fremmer, men som vi skal fremme i endnu højere grad.