WRITTEN QUESTION E-2503/99

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Minimum standards for the protection of laying hens

Having regard to Council Directive 1999/74/EC(1) of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens and to Chapter II of this directive which specifies that the Member States must ensure that, from 1 January 2003, all cage systems referred to in that chapter comply with the minimum standards that are laid down, that rearing in the cages referred to in that chapter is prohibited with effect from 1 January 2012 and that, with effect from 1 January 2003, no cages such as referred to in that chapter may be built or brought into service for the first time;

having regard also to the possibility of the Union partly financing chicken farms in the applicant countries with a view to accession;

will the Commission state whether:

- the above provisions and their strict observance are taken into account in connection with such part-financing?

- it plans to establish in the near future a supervisory body with specific responsibility for overseeing and monitoring the above provisions?

(1) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 53.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 provides for Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession period(1). The objectives of the support are to contribute to the implementation of the acquis communautaire concerning the common agricultural policy and related policies and to solve priority and specific problems for the sustainable adaptation of the agricultural sector and rural areas in the applicant countries. Article 2 of the above Regulation provides for investment in agricultural holdings and it is expected that most applicant countries will propose such measures in their plans. According to Article 4 (3) of the same Regulation the applicant countries shall ensure, amongst others, that priority is given to measures improving quality and health standards in compliance with the provisions on the protection of the environment.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 of 22 December 1999 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession period(2), states that investment support shall be granted to agricultural holdings which comply with the national minimum standards regarding environment, hygiene and animal welfare at the time when the decision to grant support is taken. In the same article it is also stated that where acquis-related minimum standards regarding the environment, hygiene and animal welfare have been newly introduced at the time the application is received, the decision to grant support will be conditional on the holding meeting these new standards by the end of the realisation of the investment. However, the new investment itself must comply with Community standards, whether or not the holding as a whole complies with these standards.

In order to monitor and evaluate the application of the plans, including the fulfilment of the above provisions, a monitoring committee will be established for each applicant country and rules and procedures for reports are established in the plans.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 331, 23.12.1999.