WRITTEN QUESTION E-1470/00 by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Internal reform of the Commission.
Date: 2000-05-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, appointment of staff, institutional reform, staff assessment

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/43

The Commission attaches great importance to investigating allegations that (illegal) state aids are being
paid. However, in order to do so it would need to have more information about the nature of the aids
which are being granted and about the L(cid:228)nder concerned.

(1) Point 10 of the Community guidelines for State aid in the agriculture sector (OJ C 28, 1.2.2000).

(2001/C 81 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1460/00

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The treatment of stray animals in Spain

(10 May 2000)

Is the Commission aware of the way in which stray animals in Catalonia (Spain) are caught and killed?

Does the Commission know that the capture of stray dogs, for example, has been contracted out to a
commercial organisation, which drugs the animals and burns them alive if they are not claimed within
eight to ten days?

Does the Commission not feel that stray domestic animals should be kept in animal shelters in Catalonia
as they are in most EU Member States?

Does the Commission know that Spain has not signed the Council of European convention for the
protection of domestic animals (1987)?

Is the Commission able to remind the Catalan regional government of its responsibility with regard to the
protection of domestic animals?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the way in which stray dogs are caught and killed in Spain. This is not an
area of Community competence.

The Commission shares the view that unnecessary suffering of animals should be avoided.

It is correct that Spain has not ratified the Council of Europe convention for the protection of domestic
animals.

Although the recent protocol on the protection and welfare of animals (1) called on the Community and
Member States to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, no legal instrument is at present
available to the Commission to act in line with the Honourable Member(cid:146)s suggestion.

(1) OJ C 340, 10.11.1997.

(2001/C 81 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1470/00

by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Internal reform of the Commission

(10 May 2000)

In connection with the internal reform of the Commission a number of senior appointments are being
made in apparent disregard for the principle of geographical balance. Has the Commission forgotten about

C 81 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

this principle which, by any reckoning, is essential to the balanced functioning of the institutions? Is it
normal that,
in certain Directorates-General, both the Director-General and some of the heads of the
division should be of the same nationality?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

There is no evidence to substantiate the Honourable Member(cid:146)s assertion that (cid:145)In connection with the
internal reform of the Commission a number of senior appointments are being made in apparent disregard
for the principle of geographical balance(cid:146). On the contrary, on 18th September and 8th December 1999
the Commission adopted rules and procedures governing senior appointments which it is following
scrupulously.

Appointments are made according to basic principles of merit which means that thorough and objective
assessment is made of the aptitudes of a qualified applicant for a specific post, with proper account being
the need to sustain the (cid:145)geographical balance(cid:146) which is an essential consideration in this
taken of
multinational Institution.

For details of appointments to senior posts during the time that this Commission has been in office the
Honourable Member is referred to the reply which Vice President Kinnock made to Oral Question O-52/
00 from Snr PomØs-Ruiz in the Plenary of 3 May 2000 and to the full list of A1 and A2 appointments
provided to Parliament at that time. The factual details demonstrate that the principle of geographical
balance has been, and is being, respected in practice and not disregarded.

(2001/C 81 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1481/00

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Checks at the Suben motorway frontier crossing point

Queues of heavy goods vehicles wishing to enter Germany have recently been forming mainly when the
Austrian gendarmerie and the Bavarian police carry out joint checks. These checks are usually made at the
entrance to the customs office parking area.

The formal operation is undertaken by the Austrian gendarmerie, but it takes account of shortcomings
referred to it by the Bavarian police. As the checks are made at the place referred to above, a line of HGVs
immediately forms on the motorway when several of them in a row are flagged down and have to queue
up to be checked.

Is the Commission aware that artificial tailbacks of this kind occur only at this frontier crossing point?

What does the Commission intend to do in this context to gain full acceptance for the idea of the internal
market? These stoppages at the frontier do, after all, cost hauliers money as well as causing them
considerable losses of time.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2000)

The Commission is aware that controls, such as those to which the Honourable Member refers, are being
carried out in cooperation between German and Austrian police forces. According to information supplied
by both administrations, such checks take place to ensure compliance with the traffic regulations and other