do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3184/98 by Jan LAGENDIJK to the Commission. Infringement of the Habitats Directive by the construction of a dam in the Ems
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, LAGENDIJK
Subjects: Germany, Netherlands, complaint to the Commission, engineering structure, infringement of EU law

C 182/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

(1999/C 182/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3184/98

by Jan Lagendijk (V) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Infringement of the Habitats Directive by the construction of a dam in the Ems

Is the Commission aware that work started on 17 September on the construction of a dam in the Ems near
Gandersum?

What is the Commission’s response to the fact that building work has started despite the Commission’s request
to the German government to forward information in view of a possible infringement of the Habitats Directive
and the Wild Birds Directive (1)?

Has the Commission received the information it requested from the German government?

If not, does the Commission intend to wait for the information while work on the dam goes ahead?

In the present instance, what does the Commission regard as a reasonable deadline for forwarding the
information?

Is the Commission prepared, on the basis of the information already in its possession, to start infringement
proceedings forthwith in order to prevent the dam being a fait accompli when the Commission appeals to the
Court?

(1) Answer to Question E-2382/98, see page 6.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1998)

As has been stated in the reply to Written Question E-2382/98 by Mrs Van Putten (1), the construction of a
dam on the Ems German-Dutch border is the subject of a range of complaints. The Commission has recently
been informed of the fact that the work started on 17 September 1998.

As the Honourable Member states, the Commission has invited the German authorities to take a position on
the matter. On the basis of more substantial information put forward by the complainants, the Commission
has recently sent a further letter to the German authorities and asked them to comment also on this additional
information. The awaited reply will help the Commission to decide whether to open infringement proceedings
under Article 169 of the EC Treaty. The Commission has not yet received a reply. Therefore the Commission
has not yet taken a decision.

In case of complaints where the Commission considers that there might be an infringement, it invites the
national authorities to take a position. In these cases the Commission generally allows two months for a reply.
This is also the case here.

If the Member State does not respect the said deadline, the Commission takes the appropriate measures to
ensure the proper handling of the case. This might include, in case of a systematic refusal to provide
information, the opening of infringement proceedings under Article 5 of the EC Treaty which obliges Member
States to take all appropriate measures to ensure fulfilment of the obligations resulting from action taken by
the Commission in its role as guardian of the EC Treaty.

(1)

See page 6.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3188/98 by Arthur NEWENS to the Commission. Humanitarian aid to the Sudan
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, NEWENS
Subjects: EU financing, European Union, Sudan, financial aid, humanitarian aid

15.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 297/55

The Commission is always ready to provide the Honourable Member with more detailed information.

(1) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993.

(1999/C 297/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3188/98

by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Humanitarian aid to the Sudan

Would the Commission state how much humanitarian and other EU aid has been delivered to the Sudan
annually in each of the last five years and provide an estimate for the current year?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1998)

Total humanitarian assistance for Sudan over the last five years is ECU 115,64 million. The breakdown per
year is ECU 26,11 million in 1994, ECU 21,40 million in 1995, ECU 17,38 million in 1996, ECU 18,95
million in 1997 and ECU 31,80 million in 1998 (to October). The above figures are not inclusive of costs of
the regional ‘ECHO-flight’ operation, providing humanitarian air transport to Sudan and to Somalia. The
annual cost of the Sudan operations of ECHO flight is roughly ECU 2,5 million per year.

In addition to the figures concerning humanitarian assistance, the Commission provided co-financing to non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) per year of ECU 441 824 in 1994, ECU 550 835 in 1995, ECU 619 208
in 1996, ECU 978 809 in 1997, and ECU 651 589 in 1998 (estimated); aid to human rights and
democratization of ECU 74 500 in 1996 and ECU 663 990 in 1998 (estimated); and food aid or security
of ECU 12,07 million in 1994, ECU 7,53 million in 1995, ECU 3,80 million in 1996, ECU 2,00 million in
1997 and ECU 39,00 million in 1998 (estimated).

(1999/C 297/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3193/98

by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Trade with Turkey

Would the Commission provide figures detailing the changes in the volume of trade transacted between the EU
as a whole and EU Member States, on the one hand, and Turkey, on the other, since the Customs Union came
into effect?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1998)

Trade between the Community and Turkey has increased substantially since the entry into force of the customs
union, from around ECU 22 000 million in 1995 to upwards of ECU 28 000 million in 1996 and ECU 34 000
million in 1997. The Community’s surplus on the account likewise increased over the same period, from
ECU 4 000 million in 1995 to ECU 8 000 million in 1996 and ECU 10 000 million in 1997. The same trends
are reflected in the figures for Member States’ bilateral trade with Turkey.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3178/98 by Christian ROVSING to the Commission. Medicine residues in horse meat (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, ROVSING
Subjects: animal show, equidae, foodstuff, pharmaceutical product, public health, slaughter animal, veterinary drug, waste

C 297/54

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

15.10.1999

(1999/C 297/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3178/98

by Christian Rovsing (PPE) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Medicine residues in horse meat

In view of the public concern over medicine residues in foodstuffs and the fact that animals, including
racehorses, need to be treated for diseases:

1. What will the Commission do to ensure that MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) are laid down for all

essential medicines and that the latter can be afforded by all horse owners?

2.

Since professional racehorses receive considerable amounts of medicine during their career, how will the
Commission ensure that they do not end up as food?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-41/99 by
Mr De Coene (1).

(1)

See page 139.

(1999/C 297/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3187/98

by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1998)

Subject: Meat hygiene: Poultry

Does the Commission know how many Member States have successfully fully implemented the Poultry Meat
Directive (71/118/EEC) (1)? Can the Commission also confirm whether all Member States have properly
enforced the presence of at least one official veterinary surgeon in slaughter houses, as required under this
Directive?

(1) OJ L 55, 8.3.1971, p. 23.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1998)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that all the Member States have notified the national
measures taken in order to comply with Directive 71/118/EEC on health problems affecting the trade in fresh
poultry meat as amended and updated by Council Directive 92/116/EEC of 17 December 1992 (1). In order to
verify the application of this directive the Veterinary and phytosanitary office carried out in 1994 and 1995
evaluation visits in all the Member States. The findings have been presented to the Member States and
discussed with them. Some deficiencies in transposition and implementation and in particular in the field of
the presence of the official veterinarian have been pointed out in some Member States. Recommendations for
modification of the existing legislation are being considered during the preparation of the ‘simplification
project’.

The Commission regrets to inform the Honourable Member that it is for the time being short of staff in the
sector of veterinary inspection. Further verification of the application of the requirements of Council
Directives 71/118/EEC is necessary, but the Commission can only use its scarce resources to address a
limited number of priorities. A procedure to recruit new staff has been initiated and the poultry sector will
become one of the priorities of the Food and veterinary office.
98/621/EC: Commission Decision of 27 October 1998 amending for the third time Decision 95/109/EC, concerning additional guarantees relating to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis for bovines destined for Member States or regions of Member States free from the disease, in relation to Italy (notified under document number C(1998) 3237) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Autonomous Province of Bolzano, animal disease, cattle, infectious disease, veterinary inspection

5. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 296/15

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 October 1998

amending for the third time Decision 95/109/EC, concerning additional guaran-
tees relating to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis for bovines destined for Member
States or regions of Member States free from the disease, in relation to Italy

(notified under document number C(1998) 3237)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(98/621/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26
June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-
Community trade in bovine animals and swine (1), as last
amended by Directive 98/46/EC (2), and in particular
Article 9(3) thereof,

Whereas an eradication programme was commenced in
Bolzano (Italy) for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in
1991; whereas this programme has been approved by
Commission Decision 98/580/EC (3)
for a three-year
period;

Whereas the eradication programme is still in progress;
whereas the programme should allow infectious bovine
rhinotracheitis to be eradicated from Bolzano (Italy) in the
future;

Whereas Commission Decision 95/109/EC (4), as last
amended by Decision 98/548/EC (5), establishes certain
additional guarantees relating to infectious bovine rhino-
tracheitis for bovines destined for certain parts of the

territory of the Community; whereas the guarantees envis-
aged in this Decision may also be granted to Bolzano;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary
Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The following line is added to the Annex to Decision
95/109/EC:
‘Italy

The province of Bolzano'.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 27 October 1998.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 1977/64.
(2) OJ L 198, 15. 7. 1998, p. 22.
(3) OJ L 279, 16. 10. 1998, p. 49.
(4) OJ L 79, 7. 4. 1995, p. 32.
(5) OJ L 263, 26. 9. 1998, p. 35.