WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1610/98 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. Impact of GATT/WTO on animal protection
Date: 1998-05-25
Institutions: European Parliament, WADDINGTON
Subjects: European standard, GATT, World Trade Organisation, animal welfare, common agricultural policy, international standard, protection of animals, reform of the CAP

5.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 31/61

(1999/C 31/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1610/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(25 May 1998)

Subject: Impact of GATT/WTO on animal protection

There is growing concern that the GATT Agreement is making it increasingly difficult for the EU to introduce
enhanced standards of animal welfare protection, as import bans may not be imposed on products, even if their
production has involved substantial animal suffering. This in turn discourages the introduction of tighter
restrictions within the EU because of a fear of competition from cheaper imports produced using production
methods which are more cruel.

Given the Commission(cid:146)s Agenda 2000 proposal that CAP policies should be redirected to take animal welfare
into account, what measures will the Commission be taking to ensure a higher profile for this problem, with a
view to preventing a future possible conflict with CAP reform, during the forthcoming WTO Ministerial
Conference?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 1998)

Under World trade organisation (WTO) rules as currently interpreted there is a conflict between WTO
agreements and Community animal welfare provisions if the Community(cid:146)s welfare-based production standards
are made a condition for imports from third countries.

Such possible conflicts can effectively be avoided through the adoption of international welfare-based standards
in the framework of bilateral or multilateral agreements. Furthermore, given the fact that animal welfare is
becoming an increasingly relevant issue in terms of international trade, this issue may be raised in the WTO
context in the future. The possibility of amending WTO rules to address welfare concerns will be addressed in the
context of the determination of the Community negotiation objectives for the next stage of the WTO negotiations.

(1999/C 31/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1623/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(27 May 1998)

Subject: Fifth framework programme for RTDD (budget for implementation)

With regard to the amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision concerning the Fifth
framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) and to
the amended proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Fifth framework programme of the European
Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and training activities (1998-2002) (COM(97) 439 final › 97/
0119 COD › 97/0120 CNS) (1), will the Commission ensure consistency between the requirements of an
integrated approach by the Fifth framework programme and the concentration and interoperability of generic
research activities, activities in support of major infrastructures and the key actions on which the new Community
architecture is based, and identify, for this purpose, a series of qualitative and quantitative criteria for the
guidance and monitoring of the activities of key actions, such as improvement in the employment sector, the
potential take-up rate, their high profile and European dimension, the level of interaction between Community,
European and national action, the presence of SMEs in the sector, the level of potential economic activity created
in terms of new undertakings, new jobs and new skills?

(1) OJ C 291, 25.9.1997, pp. 15-16.