WRITTEN QUESTION No. 634/99 by Roberto SPECIALE Border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea
Date: 1999-03-12
Institutions: European Parliament, SPECIALE
Subjects: African Union, Eritrea, Ethiopia, UN Security Council, border war, cease-fire, diplomatic relations, force reduction, settlement of disputes, the EU's international role

C 348/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.12.1999

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 1999)

1. and 2.
Following intervention of the Commission, France confirmed that Directive 93/119/EC of
22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing has been fully implemented
within its territory. However the French authorities have admitted that in certain urban areas having large
Muslim populations there are inadequate slaughterhouse capacities to enable the considerable number of
animals required for the celebration of Eid-el-Kébir at the time of the festival to be slaughtered in accordance
with all the applicable legal requirements.

A number of local authorities have, for reasons of public order and public health, found it necessary to
designate certain sites outside slaughterhouses for the purpose of celebration of the festival.

The Commission, taking into account the extreme sensitivity of the issue, has raised the matter within the
standing veterinary committee. Most Member States have underlined that they have implemented the Directive
in a way that prohibits slaughter outside the slaughterhouses. The Commission intends, however, to discuss
the results in the standing veterinary committee again and then draw its conclusions.

3.
The Commission has the evidence concerning celebration of the festival outside the slaughterhouses and
France has not denied that in certain urban areas these celebrations take place. In these circumstances, an
inspection is not considered essential for the time being.

(1999/C 348/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0503/99

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: Peaceful resolution of dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia

What action is the Union taking to promote a peaceful resolution of the long running dispute between
Ethiopia and Eritrea?

(1999/C 348/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0634/99

by Roberto Speciale (PSE) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea

The current border dispute between the Republic of Ethiopia and the State of Eritrea has already caused the
death of many civilians and forced some of the population to flee.

In view of the fact that the escalating violence in the area could have adverse effects on the entire region and
grave consequences for the population of the entire Horn of Africa, and that a prolonged war could worsen the
already harsh living conditions of the local population, the European institutions and the Eritrean and
Ethiopian communities in Italy (particularly in the regions of Liguria and Lombardy) have already expressed
their concern over the ongoing hostilities.

Will the Commission say:

1. what political pressure has been put on the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea and what offers of
mediation have been made by the EC and international organisations working in the area to put an end to
the conflict as soon as possible?

2. whether the two countries have started diplomatic negotiations in order to find a peaceful solution to the
conflict, as advocated by the European Parliament in its resolution on the conflict between Ethiopia and
Eritrea (1)?

(1) OJ C 210, 6.7.1998.