WRITTEN QUESTION E-0999/00 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Ferry services in remote areas.
Date: 2000-03-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common transport policy, ferryboat, island region, privatisation, universal service

C 46 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Under current Community legislation (Article 2 of Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December
2.
1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and
advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer (2)) the attribution to any foodstuff of the
property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease, or reference to such properties, is prohibited.
As indicated in its white paper on food safety, the Commission does not foresee the need to modify the
principle of this provision. Disease risk reduction claims are regarded as prevention of a disease and
therefore covered by this prohibition.

(1) COM(1999) 719 final.
(2) OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.

(2001/C 46 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0999/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 March 2000)

Subject: Ferry services in remote areas

Is the Commission aware of the absolute dependency of remote island communities, e.g. in the Hebrides,
the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands on adequate ferry services, and of the need to keep open routes that
would not be commercially viable in themselves? Does the Commission agree that merely dogmatic moves
to privatise such services would be regarded with great disfavour by communities served by ferries such as
those of Caledonian MacBrayne?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the dependency of remote island communities such as the Hebrides, the
Orkneys and the Shetland islands on adequate ferry services and the need to keep open routes that would
not be commercially viable in themselves. Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992
applying the principle of
freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States
(maritime cabotage) (1) specifically takes into account the transport needs of island regions and establishes
in its Article 4 the conditions under which Member States may conclude public service contracts with or
impose public service obligations as a condition for the provision of cabotage services, on shipping
companies participating in regular services to, from and between the islands.

Concerning the privatisation of such services, it is recalled that the Treaty establishes both the principle of
impartiality with regard to the system of property ownership and the principle of equality between public
and private undertakings.

(1) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992.

(2001/C 46 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1012/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Regulation, import and possession of dangerous animals

(31 March 2000)

According to journalistic sources, the number of rare and dangerous animals in Italy can be estimated at
more than 11 200. From time to time there are reports of wild animals attacking and savagely wounding
their owners or defenceless persons who happen to cross their path. The keeping of such animals by zoos