WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1635/97 by Doeke EISMA to the Commission. The cormorant
Date: 1997-05-14
Institutions: EISMA, European Parliament
Subjects: bird, protected species, protection of animal life, wildlife

C 21/76

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 1. 98

The  Commission  is  participating  actively  in  CFSP  work.  The  Commission  is,  however,  not  in  a  position  to
anticipate future developments with regard to the possible imposition of further sanctions on Burma, in particular
since Member States are engaged in a discussion on the usefulness of economic sanctions to achieve political
objectives.

(1)  OJ L 348, 31.12.1994.
OJ L 160, 29.6.1996.

(98/C 21/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1635/97

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 May 1997)

Subject: The cormorant

Following  remarks  by  Commissioner  Bjerregaard  about  the  cormorant,  I  should  like  to  ask  the  following
questions:

1. 

Is  it  true  that  the  Commission  is  considering  removing  the  cormorant  from  Annex  I  of  the  wild  birds
directive (79/409/EEC) (1)?

2.  When does the Commission intend to do this, and in what way will it inform Parliament?

3.  What is the basis for the Commission(cid:146)s view that there is a need to remove the cormorant from Annex I of the

wild birds directive?

4.  Can the Commission indicate whether it also intends to add species to Annex I of the wild birds directive?

(1)  OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 1997)

There are three species and sub-species of cormorants listed in Annex I of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the
conservation  of  wild  birds.  These  are  the  pygmy  cormorant  (Phalacrocorax  pygmeus),  the  Mediterranean
sub-species  of  the  shag  (P.  aristoteles  desmarestii)  and  the  continental  sub-species  of  the  great  cormorant
(P. carbo sinensis).

Given that the pygmy cormorant is globally threatened and that the Mediterranean sub-species of the shag is still
very vulnerable, the Commission would not favour their removal from Annex I of the Directive.

As recognized in the resolution adopted by the Parliament in February 1996, the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax
carbo)  has  significantly  increased  in  numbers.  On  the  basis  of  the  scientific  information  available  and  after
several consultations, the Commission considers that this species has reached a favourable conservation status at
the European level. As such the conservation measures have worked. The Commission is consequently preparing
a proposal for the removal of Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Annex I of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the
conservation of wild birds.

The  Parliament  was  already  informed  of  this  situation,  and  the  Commission  would  therefore  refer  the
Honourable Member to its previous answer to the written question No 3950/96 by Mr. T.P. Bebear (1) and to the
reply  it  gave  to  oral  question  H-124/97  by  Mrs  Schwaiger  during  question  time  at  Parliament(cid:146)s  March  1997
part-session (2).

Due to the urgency of the matter, the draft proposal was submitted for a vote during the meeting of the committee
for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the birds Directive.  This draft proposal was approved by
the Committee and is forwarded to the Parliament for information. The Commission will take the necessary steps
in  order  for  the  Commission  to  further  consider  this  proposal  for  adoption.  At  this  stage  however,  the
Commission does not intend to propose in the short term an extension of the list of species covered by Annex I of
the birds Directive.

(1)  OJ C 186, 18.6.1997.
(2)  Debates of the Parliament (March 1997).