WRITTEN QUESTION E-2366/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Commission reports on veterinary missions carried out in France and Greece.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, infringement procedure (EU), national implementing measure, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary inspection

C 219 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Since all Member States received this report, which is also available on the Internet,
appropriate to transmit again the same information through the rapid alert system for food.

it is no longer

(2000/C 219 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2362/99

by Stephen Hughes (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Criminal record disclosure of job applicants

1.
Research cited by the European Offender Employment Forum reveals wide variations between
different EU countries in the regulations for disclosure of past criminal record information to potential
employers. Has the Commission made any assessment of the impact of these variations on either the free
movement of labour within the EU or the employment prospects of ex-offenders?

2.
The European Offender Employment Forum estimates that half a million people leave prisons in the
EU every year and that many face acute problems in reintegrating back into the labour market. What
measures is the Commission taking to support training and employment initiatives for ex-offenders and to
tackle discrimination against them in employment?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2000)

The variations between different Member States(cid:146) regulations on disclosure of past criminal record
information to potential employers have such an indirect link with the free movement of labour that the
Commission considers that these variations are not of particular relevance to the right to free movement.

Within the European employment strategy, ex-offenders(cid:146) particular difficulties in acquiring relevant skills
and in gaining access to the labour market are under guideline 9. This guideline recommends Member
States to give special attention to the needs of the disabled, ethnic minorities and other groups and
individuals who may be disadvantaged, and to develop appropriate forms of preventive and active policies
to promote their integration into the labour market.

Furthermore, social and economic re-integration of ex-offenders might also be covered by the incentive
measures mentioned in Article 137 (ex Article 118) of the EC Treaty and designed to encourage co-
operation between Member States through initiatives aimed at
improving knowledge, developing
exchanges of information and best practice and promoting innovative approaches. The Commission is
currently preparing a draft programme on the basis of this article.

(2000/C 219 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2366/99

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Commission reports on veterinary missions carried out in France and Greece

On 23 February 1999, the Commission published a Mission Report on a veterinary mission to Greece. The
Report revealed serious breaches in Greece of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (1) on the protection of
animals during transport. The Report also pointed out that route plans for Spanish and Dutch sheep and
French cattle, all destined for Greece, were missing or not correctly filled in in the Member States of origin.

1.8.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/151

The Commission has also published a Mission Report on a veterinary mission to France. This revealed
serious breaches in France of Council Directive 91/628/EEC. The Report also pointed out that the Dutch
and German authorities were allowing heifers to be sent on very long journeys, although in advanced
pregnancy, and were accepting route plans which showed that transporters did not intend to respect the
legal requirement that cattle must be unloaded and rested for 24 hours after 29 hours of transport.

What steps is the Commission taking to require the Dutch, German, French and Greek authorities to
ensure compliance with the requirements of Council Directive 91/628/EEC?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2000)

The Commission has recently opened infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169)
EC Treaty in relation to the breaches of Community animal welfare law mentioned in the report of a
veterinary inspection mission to Greece cited by the Honourable Member.

In relation to France, failure to comply with the rules of Council Directive 91/628/EC as amended by
Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 concerning the protection of animals during transport (1)
appears to be at least partially due to the fact that full transposition of the latter text by that Member State
has only recently been completed. Infringement proceedings in respect of such incomplete transposition
were opened and the case was brought before the Court of justice. It is the Commission(cid:146)s practice to
withdraw such proceedings when the Commission is satisfied that the Member State has satisfied its
obligations in relation to the transposition of the Directive. The Commission is also examining information
concerning further apparent breaches of the relevant rules by France and will not hesitate to initiate
additional Article 226 proceedings if necessary.

The Commission is aware, both from information gathered during inspection missions and as a result of
receipt of complaints from animal welfare organisations, that journeys which are in breach of the
provisions of the above mentioned directives, notably in relation to time limits and resting, feeding and
watering, are still frequently taking place. Consignments of livestock originating in some Member States
are not always accompanied by a properly completed route plan. When such breaches come to the
attention of the Commission it intervenes with the Member State concerned and is prepared to open
infringement proceedings in appropriate cases.

The Commission has recently convened a new working group on the protection of animals during long
distance transport which aims to consider all the problems involved in the enforcement of the relevant
directives and to find appropriate solutions.

(1) OJ L 282, 15.10.1997.

(2000/C 219 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2375/99

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Sheep production in Ireland and the UK

Given the crisis in sheep production in Ireland and the UK, would the Commission indicate the EU ewe
premium and the rural world premium on a regional basis to take account of Ireland and Britain(cid:146)s lamb
prices which are 50 pence/60 pence lower respectively than French lamb prices? Would it remove sheep
from extensification calculations, protect
Irish sheep farmers from unfair competition from non-EU
countries in the upcoming WTO negotiations and insist on the clear labelling of imported lamb?