WRITTEN QUESTION E-2306/99 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Extermination of the hawksbill sea turtle?.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cuba, Japan, international trade, protected species, protection of animals, reptile

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/93

the methods of analysis and assessment, isotope analysis is one, based on the fact that the ratio between
two nitrogen isotopes, N14 and N15, is different for organic fertilisers (manure, slurry etc.) and chemical
fertilisers. Such analyses can be done by specialised laboratories, but are however rather expensive
(€ 100 per analysis). Such analysis might therefore be advisable in particularly complex cases, together
with other methods, to assess the different origins of nitrogen, as well as to assess the impact of changing
practices in a particular area. Other analytic techniques for similar purposes complementing these are
tracing boron (as boron is present in domestic waste waters), or fat acids and other organic compounds
specific of different types of animals. Given the particular conditions, isotope analyses on hydrogen and
oxygen might prove useful as well (to show the (cid:145)age(cid:146) of groundwaters, and times of transfer of polluted
waters in the soil and subsoil).

Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment obliges Member States to take the
necessary steps,
for the
prevention of leaks in urban waste water collecting systems. According to information provided by the
Dutch Ministry of the Environment, concentrations of nitrates are generally lower in groundwaters under
urban areas than in rural areas with intensive agriculture.

technical knowledge not entailing excessive costs,

in accordance with best

Nitrates pollution of waters (groundwaters and surface waters, including marine waters) has several main
sources such as agriculture and waste water. Existing Community legislation addresses, in a legally binding
way, both agricultural and waste water-related nitrates pollution. A range of methods to analyse and assess
the impact from different sources exist. The Commission will carefully observe the implementation, and
will take the necessary legal steps (infringement procedures, including request for the imposition of penalty
payments) where appropriate.

(1) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.
(3)

Judgment in case C-293/97 of 29.4.1999, The Queen / Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, ex parte
Standley and others.

(2000/C 225 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2306/99

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Extermination of the hawksbill sea turtle?

The critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle has been listed in Appendix I to CITES since 1975. Cuban
and Japanese reservations allowed Cuba to export thousands of hawksbill shells to Japan between 1975
and 1992, when Japan withdrew its reservation. Since 1992, the international trade in hawksbill shells has
been banned. In 1997, Cuba proposed to transfer the (cid:145)Cuban population(cid:146) of hawksbills to CITES Appendix
II, to export up to 500 shells to Japan each year and to export over 5 000 kg of government-held shell
stocks to Japan; this proposal failed by a narrow margin. In preparation for the next CITES meeting
(April 2000), Cuba invited scientific authorities from the European Parties to assess their hawksbill
management programme. The UK, the Netherlands and Spain visited Cuba and may recommend that
European Parties support Cuba(cid:146)s proposal.

How does the Commission plan to address concerns that the Cuban proposal does not meet the

1.
criteria established at the ninth Conference of the Parties for down-listing to Appendix II?

2.
Given concerns that any reopening of the legal trade in sea turtle products would probably fuel
demand for shell around the world and cause increased poaching and illegal trade, should the Commission
encourage trade in such a critically endangered species?

3.
Given that experts have determined that there are no more than 5 000 nesting female hawksbill
annually in the wider Caribbean, how does the Commission plan to address the fact that the annual
removal of 10 % of the population will have a detrimental impact on this critically endangered species?

C 225 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

How does the Commission plan to address concerns that sea turtles caught in Cuban waters are
4.
shared by other countries in the Caribbean, in other words, the killing and export of shells will affect the
populations of other countries?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

The Commission is aware that the government of Cuba has submitted two proposals for the limited
resumption of international trade in hawksbill sea turtles for the 11th conference of the CITES parties.

Although the Community is not a party to CITES, the Commission nonetheless will make a proposal to
the Council for a common position to be taken by the Member States at the conference of the parties as
the regulation of trade in wildlife is subject to Community competence under Council Regulation (EC)
No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade
therein (1).

The Commission(cid:146)s proposal will be made in relation to the CITES down-listing criteria mentioned by the
Honourable Member, which include the impact of the proposal on the conservation of the species in
Cuban waters and elsewhere.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2000/C 225 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Mont Blanc Tunnel

In view of the tragedy earlier this year in the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which resulted in the deaths of at least
35 people, and the fact that a contributory factor in the accident was the enormous increase over the last
few decades in the volume of traffic, has the Commission made clear its willingness to assist France and
Italy in providing alternative means of transport, possibly rail, to ease the congestion which, at the same
time, would help improve quality of the environment for those people who live directly on the line of the
current tunnel route?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Increased road traffic is a general phenomenon in Europe, and the situation is even more acute in the
alpine region, which is a central, enclosed area.

In order to help ease the congestion, the Commission is supporting projects due for completion in 2001
relating to the Lyons-Turin-(Trieste) high-speed/combined transport line, the removal of bottlenecks at
Modane station, and the AmbØrieu-Modane-Turin freight line.

In addition, the inland transport agreement signed by the Community and the Swiss Confederation in June
offers the prospect of developing alternative trans-alpine routes for heavy vehicles.

Also, under the fifth research programme the Community will support research and development relating
to techniques to reduce the risks and consequences of accidents in tunnels.