WRITTEN QUESTION E-2730/99 by Gérard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Work-related deaths in developing countries.
Date: 2000-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cooperation policy, developing countries, development aid, occupational accident, occupational mortality, working conditions

C 225 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

(2000/C 225 E/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2704/99

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Transport of animals

Recent investigations carried out by animal welfare NGOs have shown that many farm animals suffer
during long-distance transportation to slaughterhouses.

The Eurogroup for Animal Welfare, will be presenting a summary of these investigations to the European
Commission prior to a review of the Directive on the Protection of Animals during Transport (91/628/
EEC (1) as amended by 95/29/EC (2)). It is clear that the enforcement of the transport rules is not being
taken seriously by Member States. What steps is the Commission proposing to take to ensure better
enforcement?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2000)

The Commission is aware, both from information gathered during inspection missions and as a result of
complaints from animal welfare organisations (such as the report from Eurogroup for animal welfare
mentioned by the Honourable Member), that journeys which are in breach of the provisions 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), notably in relation to time limits and resting, feeding and
watering requirements, still frequently take place in the Community.

Concerning future activities the Commission is considering measures based on an opinion of the scientific
committee on animal welfare adopted on 8 December 1999, on standards in the vehicles transporting
livestock. This proposal is foreseen for the first quarter of 2000.

A working group of the standing veterinary committee has recently been established to consider particular
problems of the enforcement of the Directive in respect of long-distance transport operations including the
import of horses from third countries. Copies of the report from Eurogroup mentioned above have been
distributed to the Member States during the first meeting of the group. During the next year the
Commission will consider proposals to amend current Community legislation on the basis of
the
conclusions of this working group.

During the first quarter of 2000, as provided by Article 13 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (2), the
Commission will present to the Council a report on the experience acquired by Member States since the
implementation of this Directive. The report will take into consideration all the information transmitted by
Member States, the result of the inspection carried out by the food and veterinary office in this field and
the data derived from the complaints from non-governmental organisations.

(1) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.
(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.

(2000/C 225 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2730/99

by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Work-related deaths in developing countries

Is the Commission aware that every year over one million work-related deaths occur around the world and
hundreds of thousands of workers are injured in industrial accidents? The number of deaths caused by
work-related injuries is particularly high in the developing countries.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/197

Which projects aimed specifically at improving working conditions have been given support under the
European Union(cid:146)s development policy, and in particular under the (cid:145)project cofinancing(cid:146) and (cid:145)decentralised
cooperation(cid:146) programmes?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2000)

The Commission is well aware of working conditions in developing countries and the number of deaths to
which they give rise. However, the Commission is limited in the action it can take on the matter, notably
via development cooperation programmes.

Nonetheless, specific, targeted action to improve working conditions has been taken with the support of
the Commission and Parliament under budget headings B7-6000 and B7-6430. The Community supported
some 40 operations over the last two years, involving awareness campaigns on the impact of globalisation
on the labour market and the concept of fair trade, and highlighting working conditions in developing
countries.

For example in 1999 almost EUR 1 million was allocated under budget heading B7-6000 on activities
organised by the Brazilian trade union federation CUT relating to health and safety and environmental
protection at work, as part of a national campaign costing some EUR 2 million.

The Commission would also point out that in negotiating a new partnership between the Community and
African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the parties will reaffirm their commitment to uphold basic
standards set out in the relevant International Labour Organisation conventions, i.e. freedom to join a trade
union, freedom of organisation and collective bargaining, elimination of the worst forms of child labour,
and non-discrimination in employment.

(2000/C 225 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2739/99

by Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE) and Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Latina-Goodyear affair

Since 1965 the American company Goodyear has had a factory in the district of Cisterna di Latina
(Lazio region). 560 workers are employed at the factory. Over the years, in the period during which the
area was covered by the Mezzogiorno Development Fund, the company may have been granted funding
from the public purse. Recently, Goodyear has announced that it intends to close the factory shortly
because it is not profitable.

Can the Commission say:

1. Whether it considers it appropriate to ask the Italian government to find out if Goodyear, in the past,

has been the recipient of public funds and, if so, how much funding it received;

2. Whether, in view of the employment problems in the area, the Commission considers that it should
take steps to prevent multinational companies from abandoning production sites, as has been seen in
recent years, once public funding ceases to be available, with no regard for the welfare of employees
or the protection of the environment?