WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2572/97 by Jan MULDER to the Commission. Infectious animal diseases brought in from neighbouring countries of the EU
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, MULDER
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU financing, EU programme, Mediterranean third countries, animal disease, import, infectious disease, veterinary inspection

C 134/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

5.
The Commission proposal for a Council directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation
of energy products (3) (which is included in the Commission(cid:146)s action plan for the internal market) does not make
any provision for maximum rates of duty and would allow Member States to introduce differential rates without
authorisation. As such, therefore, this decision does not affect the Commission draft action plan.

6.
The Commission feels that full harmonisation is a long term target and that the interests of the Community
in the shorter term will be best served by a combination of agreed minimum rates which are subject to regular
increases and a wider tax base along the lines it has put forward in its above › mentioned proposal.

As mentioned in point 2 above, Member States are entirely free to decide the level of their national tax rates
7.
provided they respect the minimum rates laid down in Community law. However, as indicated at point 3 above,
the  tax  differential  introduced  by  the  new  law  was  submitted  to  the  Council  as  required  and  has  been  duly
approved.

(1)  OJ L 316, 31.10.1992.
(2)  Council Decision 97/425/EC. OJ L 182, 10.7.1997.
(3)  OJ C 139, 6.4.1997.

(98/C 134/16)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2572/97

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: Infectious animal diseases brought in from neighbouring countries of the EU

1.
Does the Commission agree that the increase in trade and commerce has increased the risk of infectious
animal diseases being brought into the European Union from neighbouring countries, such as those of Central
and Eastern Europe and the countries around the Mediterranean?

If so, does the Commission feel it would be useful to improve veterinary facilities in those countries in

2.
order to reduce the risk of infectious animal diseases being brought into the European Union?

3.
Can the Commission indicate to what extent appropriations under PHARE and MEDA are already being
used  for  this  purpose,  and  is  it  prepared  to  encourage  the  use  of  such  funds  to  control  infectious  diseases  in
countries  where  veterinary  facilities  are  inadequate,  as  this  would  be  in  the  interests  of  those  countries
themselves and of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr. Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 1997)

In the case of non-Community countries, and in particular those referred to by the Honourable Member, the
1.
Community has armed itself with tools for preventing animal disease from being spread in the Community from
imported live animals and animal products: veterinary requirements applying to imports, adoption of protective
measures  when  necessary,  and  a  network  of  border  inspection  posts  able  to  make  suitable  checks.  It  is
nonetheless true that the best guarantee is a high level of animal health in the exporting country. For this an
effective veterinary infrastructure is essential.

2. and 3.
In the framework of the Phare programme considerable technical and equipment assistance has been
and is currently being made available to improve the veterinary control infrastructure in the central and eastern
European countries (CEECs), both through the country programmes and on a multi-country basis.

In  the  light  of  the  Commission  opinions  on  membership,  technical  and  investment  assistance  for  the  formal
adoption  of  the  veterinary  (cid:145)acquis  communautaire(cid:146)  and  for  the  improvement  of  enforcement  and  control
infrastructures will be intensified in the years to come.

MEDA could contribute to the financing of measures to improve veterinary infrastructure in the Mediterranean
partner countries provided that such measures are included in national indicative programmes.