do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 40/99 by Hanja MAIJ-WEGGEN Trade in cat and dog fur
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: animal welfare, domestic animal, fur-bearing animal, hides and furskins industry, protection of animals, trading operation













EUR-Lex - 91999E0040 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91999E0040

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 40/99 by Hanja MAIJ-WEGGEN Trade in cat and dog fur  


Official Journal C 348 , 03/12/1999 P. 0014 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0040/99by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission(20 January 1999)Subject: Trade in cat and dog furOn 13 December 1998, from 10.55 p.m. to 11.45 p.m., German RTL Television broadcast a documentary entitled Cats and dogs: the fur scandal - consumer advertising and cruelty to animals, reporting the existence of a growing trade in cat and dog fur.The fur is reported to be used in producing such items as decorative collars, cuddly toys, leather jackets, shoes, golfing gloves, etc.Hundreds of thousands of cat and dog pelts are reported to be traded in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland in particular.Can the Commission state whether the trade in and processing of cat and dog fur is lawful in the European Member States?Can the Commission confirm that both the trade and the processing business are growing strongly?Does the Commission not consider that this is a reprehensible development, not least because nearly all cats and dogs are domestic animals and an expanding trade in these animals' fur increases the risk of stray family pets being stolen?Is the Commission prepared simply to prohibit this trade and the associated processing in the European Union so that members of the public need have no fear of their pets being caught and killed to satisfy the needs of this trade?Supplementary answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission(9 April 1999)The documentary to which the Honourable Member refers was televised on the German television channel RTL and concerns cruelty in the methods of killing cats and dogs for the purposes of skin production in certain Asian countries. The Commission shares the opinion of the Honourable Member that animals should not be treated in a cruel manner.The Commission is not collecting any specific information concerning trade and processing of such furs. It is therefore not possible to confirm whether this business is growing. Similarly there is no information available on whether the demand for dog and cat furs actually leads to an increased risk of stray family pets being stolen.There is no binding international agreement in force which lays down minimum standards for the killing of fogs and cats. Under World trade organisation (WTO) rules as currently interpreted, animal welfare provisions cannot be made a condition for imports from third countries. However, in the context of the determination of the Community negotiating objectives for the next stage of the WTO negotiations, the Commission will examine the possibility of addressing animal welfare concerns more generally.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 32/99 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS Viagra and the ill-treatment of animals
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: animal experimentation, animal welfare, domestic animal, medical research, medicinal product, protection of animals

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/59

Present WTO rules do not allow discriminatory differentiation within the GSP in favour of a particular group
of countries, with the exception of LDCs, 39 of them being ACP. However, a discussion of the adequacy of
these rules in the light of the evolution of the international context and development policies could be foreseen
in the future.

The exclusion of Thailand from the preferential benefits of GSP for the fishery sector is a result of the
application of the so-called graduation mechanism, which excludes sectors and countries from the benefit of
the preferential margin if a certain level of development has been reached in that sector. This mechanism,
which is applicable on the basis of non-discriminatory criteria to all benefiting countries, has so far never been
challenged in WTO.

(1999/C 325/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0032/99

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Viagra and the ill-treatment of animals

Reports have recently appeared in the European press that the company which manufactures the well-known
drug Viagra carried out experiments on dogs in its laboratory in the Sandwich area in the United Kingdom.

During these experiments many of the dogs were killed and scores of others suffered appallingly.

Will the Commission say whether its services were informed about the ill-treatment and killing of scores of
innocent dogs and, if so, what action it has taken to identify those responsible so as to prevent anything similar
occurring in future?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-3349/98 by
Mr Tamino (1).

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 66.

(1999/C 325/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0033/99

by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Veterinary checks by EU-veterinarians of third country poultrymeat-processing establishments

In view of the clear need to guarantee the safety of all meat products entering the EU from third countries, can
the Commission confirm that, in the case of poultrymeat, it is EU-veterinarians and not the authorities in the
third countries themselves, who now have responsibility for inspecting and approving all processing plants
before they can be approved to export to the EU?

In this regard, can the Commission also indicate the exact number of poultrymeat processing plants in both
Thailand and Brazil which are approved for export to the EU and indicate how many of these plants have been
inspected by EU-veterinary inspectors within the last three years?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 38/99 by Giorgio LA MALFA to the Commission. Urban Forum measures in the Mediterranean
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, LA MALFA
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU environmental policy, EU financing, Mediterranean region (EU), general budget (EU), sustainable development













EUR-Lex - 91999E0038 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91999E0038

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 38/99 by Giorgio LA MALFA to the Commission. Urban Forum measures in the Mediterranean  


Official Journal C 297 , 15/10/1999 P. 0138 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0038/99by Giorgio La Malfa (ELDR) to the Commission(20 January 1999)Subject: Urban Forum measures in the MediterraneanThe European Parliament adopted an amendment aimed at involving the network of Urban Forums in the measures covered by budget heading B4-0306.By virtue of this amendment the budget line provides for the use of financial resources for projects to be carried out in the Mediterranean basin, in which a number of Central and Eastern European countries are involved.Can the Commission say what specific steps it is taking to respond to this clear recommendation by the European Parliament, especially in view of the importance of environmental management policy between the two shores of the Mediterranean?Furthermore, what are the planned timescale and practical arrangements for consultation with the Commission's partners and in particular with the network of Urban Forums, with a view to the implementation of the measures awaited by Parliament?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(4 March 1999)The remarks relating to heading B4-306 in the European Union's general budget for the 1999 accounting period(1) calls for a widening of the activities of the European Forum's network for sustainable development to cover the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) without any specific mention of the Mediterranean countries. For the record the urban forum's network already includes some Mediterranean members, namely: in Italy there are Venice and Terni, in Spain there are Grenada and Bilbao and in Greece there is Volos.On 15 January 1999 the Commission took the step of bringing together a certain number of representatives of European-Forum-Network members in order to contemplate the conditions for extending the network within the CEECs. That thinking process is still continuing and could result in the final touches being made to a project during the spring of 1999.(1) OJ L 39, 12.2.1999.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 119/1999 of 20 January 1999 fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 23rd partial invitation to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1574/98
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: award of contract, export levy, export refund, white sugar

21. 1. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 16/3

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 119/1999

of 20 January 1999

fixing the maximum export refund for white sugar for the 23rd partial invitation
to tender issued within the framework of the standing invitation to tender
provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1574/98

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81
of 30 June 1981 on the common organization of the
last amended by
markets
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1148/98 (2), and in
particular the second subparagraph of Article 17 (5) (b)
thereof,

in the sugar

sector (1), as

Whereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1574/98 of 22
July 1998 on a standing invitation to tender to determine
refunds on exports of white sugar (3),
levies and/or
requires partial invitations to tender to be issued for the
export of this sugar;

Whereas, pursuant to Article 9 (1) of Regulation (EC) No
1574/98 a maximum export refund shall be fixed, as the
case may be, account being taken in particular of the state
the Community and
and foreseeable development of
world markets in sugar, for the partial invitation to tender
in question;

following an examination of

the tenders
Whereas,
submitted in response to the 23rd partial invitation to
tender, the provisions set out in Article 1 should be
adopted;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are
in accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for Sugar,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the 23rd partial invitation to tender for white sugar
to Regulation (EC) No 1574/98 the
issued pursuant
maximum amount of the export refund is fixed at EUR
49,939 per 100 kilograms.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on 21 January
1999.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
States.

Done at Brussels, 20 January 1999.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 177, 1. 7. 1981, p. 4.
(2) OJ L 159, 3. 6. 1998, p. 38.
(3) OJ L 206, 23. 7. 1998, p. 7.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 37/99 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI Cat skins used for 'educational purposes'
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: Germany, Italy, animal skin, domestic animal, export, teaching materials

C 341/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.11.1999

(1999/C 341/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0037/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Cat skins used for ‘educational purposes’

In Italy a catalogue advertising teaching aids for middle schools contains an advertisement for cat skins to be
used for physics experiments. This has caused outrage among Italian animal-protection organizations.

Teachers themselves say that the experiments can be carried out perfectly well using a woollen cloth instead of
an animal skin. How ‘educational’ is it to give children who are still growing the skin of a species of animal
which, in many cases, is waiting at home to play with them? According to the publisher of the catalogue - one
of the most trustworthy in Italy - the cat skins are imported from Germany and presumably Germany
supplies them not only for Italy.

Does the Commission consider:

1.

that it should sanction Germany for carrying out this cruel trade;

2.

3.

that it should warn Italy and the other Member States against purchasing equipment that is evidence of
cruelty against animals and, even worse, animals kept as pets;

that it should remind Italy and the other countries of the Union that laws have existed for some time to
protect animals and prevent them from being mistreated and killed?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 1999)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the trade of cat skin for experimental or
other purposes is not covered by any Community legislation.

In the absence of Community competence applicable to this area, the Commission is unable to take any action.

(1999/C 341/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0051/99

by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission

(15 January 1999)

Subject: Leonardo - Cresson

The Leonardo programme is one of the EU’s most successful programmes and enables thousands of young
people to gain personal experience of Europe.

This programme is implicated in the recent events, with very unfortunate consequences for the EU’s credibility.

The committee responsible has decided to hand over the documents to the public prosecutor’s office, with a
request for an investigation into possible fraud and mismanagement.

It has been alleged in this committee that the Commissioner responsible, Mrs Cresson, has prevented a revised
version of the financial audit being submitted to it. Is this allegation correct, and can the Commission provide
information on what this financial report contains?
Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters concerning the provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Madagascar on fishing off Madagascar for the period from 21 May 1998 to 20 May 2001
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Community, Madagascar
Subjects: Madagascar, agreement (EU), financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing licence, protocol to an agreement

4. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 295/33

AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

concerning the provisional application of
the fishing
opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement between the
European Economic Community and the Republic of Madagascar on fishing off
Madagascar for the period from 21 May 1998 to 20 May 2001

the Protocol setting out

A. Letter from the Government of Madagascar

Sir,

With reference to the Protocol initialled on 5 March 1998 setting out fishing opportunities and
financial compensation for the period from 21 May 1998 to 20 May 2001, I have the honour to
inform you that the Government of Madagascar is prepared to apply the Protocol on a provisional
basis with effect from 21 May 1998, pending its entry into force in accordance with Article 7 of
the said Protocol, provided the European Community is disposed to do the same.

This is on the understanding that the first annual instalment of the financial compensation
specified in Article 2 of the Protocol is paid by 30 October 1998.

I should be obliged if you would confirm the European Community’s agreement to such
provisional application.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government
of the Republic of Madagascar

Sir,

B. Letter from the Community

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today’s date, which reads as follows:

‘With reference to the Protocol initialled on 5 March 1998 setting out fishing opportunities
and financial compensation for the period from 21 May 1998 to 20 May 2001, I have the
honour to inform you that the Government of Madagascar is prepared to apply the Protocol
on a provisional basis with effect from 21 May 1998, pending its entry into force in
accordance with Article 7 of the said Protocol, provided the European Community is disposed
to do the same.

This is on the understanding that the first annual instalment of the financial compensation
specified in Article 2 of the Protocol is paid by 30 October 1998.

I should be obliged if you would confirm the European Community’s agreement to such
provisional application.'

I have the honour to confirm the European Community’s agreement
application.

to such provisional

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

On behalf of
the Council of the European Union
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 29/99 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Human rights of householders without planning permission
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Greece, building permit, real property, town-planning scheme

C 182/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

on the other hand, be allowed to purchase such rights provided they have worked for at least one year in
Denmark. Under the new rules, rights are acquired by paying a contribution to the Danish unemployment
insurance scheme between the ages of 35 and 60. The old rules normally require membership of the scheme
for 20 years preceding the age of 60.

(1) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968, p. 2.
(2) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1235/98 by
Mr Bonde during question time at Parliament’s January I 1999 part-session (1).

(1) Debates of the Parliament (January I 1999).

(1999/C 182/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0029/99

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Human rights of householders without planning permission

There are some 800 000 buildings without planning permission in Greece, and over two million persons
(including their families) occupy such buildings.

These illegal householders have received repeated assurances from the Greek authorities that the problem of
legalizing their buildings will be settled and that they will be integrated in town planning schemes; however,
nothing has so far been done. The laws and presidential decrees issued since 1977 (the most recent was
Presidential Decree 267 of 1998) are concerned purely with raising revenue and impose swingeing fines on
illegal householders, even though no progress has been made to connect their dwellings to the water supply,
sewage and electricity systems, services which are provided as a matter of course in any other country. This
situation represents a violation of even the most basic human rights and reduces one fifth of the inhabitants of
Greece to the status of second-class citizens.

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the plight of householders without planning permission in
Greece and what measures it intends to take to provide relief for the two million and more Greeks who lack the
most basic public utilities such as water, light and sewage disposal?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 1999)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national
authorities concerned.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 33/99 by David HALLAM Veterinary checks by EU-veterinarians of third country poultrymeat- processing establishments
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, HALLAM
Subjects: Brazil, EU control, Thailand, export, meat processing industry, meat product, poultrymeat, third country, veterinary inspection

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/59

Present WTO rules do not allow discriminatory differentiation within the GSP in favour of a particular group
of countries, with the exception of LDCs, 39 of them being ACP. However, a discussion of the adequacy of
these rules in the light of the evolution of the international context and development policies could be foreseen
in the future.

The exclusion of Thailand from the preferential benefits of GSP for the fishery sector is a result of the
application of the so-called graduation mechanism, which excludes sectors and countries from the benefit of
the preferential margin if a certain level of development has been reached in that sector. This mechanism,
which is applicable on the basis of non-discriminatory criteria to all benefiting countries, has so far never been
challenged in WTO.

(1999/C 325/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0032/99

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Viagra and the ill-treatment of animals

Reports have recently appeared in the European press that the company which manufactures the well-known
drug Viagra carried out experiments on dogs in its laboratory in the Sandwich area in the United Kingdom.

During these experiments many of the dogs were killed and scores of others suffered appallingly.

Will the Commission say whether its services were informed about the ill-treatment and killing of scores of
innocent dogs and, if so, what action it has taken to identify those responsible so as to prevent anything similar
occurring in future?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-3349/98 by
Mr Tamino (1).

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 66.

(1999/C 325/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0033/99

by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 1999)

Subject: Veterinary checks by EU-veterinarians of third country poultrymeat-processing establishments

In view of the clear need to guarantee the safety of all meat products entering the EU from third countries, can
the Commission confirm that, in the case of poultrymeat, it is EU-veterinarians and not the authorities in the
third countries themselves, who now have responsibility for inspecting and approving all processing plants
before they can be approved to export to the EU?

In this regard, can the Commission also indicate the exact number of poultrymeat processing plants in both
Thailand and Brazil which are approved for export to the EU and indicate how many of these plants have been
inspected by EU-veterinary inspectors within the last three years?