WRITTEN QUESTION E-1914/00 by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Protection of animals during slaughtering.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: accession to the European Union, import (EU), slaughter of animals

C 89 E/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

On the future of the JRC, a high-level panel under the chairmanship of Mr Etienne Davignon has recently
reported and made recommendations on ways in which the implementation of the JRC(cid:146)s mission could be
improved. The Report was made available to the ITRE Committee of
the Parliament by letter of
Commissioner Busquin of 4 July.

The JRC has already undertaken several reforms aimed at more effective management including total
quality management, transfer of management tasks to the institutes and the introduction of internal
auditing.

(2001/C 89 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1914/00

by Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Protection of animals during slaughtering

In view of the significant discomfort to which animals destined for slaughter are subject, the fact that this
discomfort not only causes pointless suffering to the animals themselves, but may be detrimental to the
quality of the product obtained from slaughter, the repercussions of this discomfort in terms of consumer
protection principles, and, finally, the current conditions under which live animals are imported into the
Member States of the European Union by exporting countries, which are in fact countries involved in the
accession process,

Can the Commission say:

1. what practical measures are planned, with regard to the importation of animals for slaughter into the
European Union, concerning the implementation of the objective, which Parliament has set out in
numerous resolutions, of slaughtering being carried out in the place of rearing or as near to it as
possible,

2. whether the current slaughtering conditions in the countries involved in the accession process which
export to the European Union comply with Community objectives concerning respect for animals and
consumer protection,

3. whether the Commission is now or will in the near future be prepared to provide financial aid for:

(cid:129) the improvement of structures, the environment and machinery in slaughterhouses in these

countries,

(cid:129) training courses on the protection of animals for slaughterers in these countries and for veterinary
officials responsible for checking that slaughterers carry out their duties in compliance with these
instructions?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s responsibilities towards animal protection have increased under the recent protocol to
the EC Treaty, which requires the European institutions and Member States to consider animal welfare a
priority when drawing up agriculture, transport, single market and research policies.

Community legislation is drawn up on the basis of the results of scientific research and practical
knowledge, both of which indicate that animal transport is feasible if specific animal protection conditions
are met.

In relation to the transport of animals imported into the Community, the Commission believes that the
most effective way to achieve a widespread improvement in animal welfare standards is to work towards
an international consensus on this issue.

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/111

Given the priority of the subject, the question of long distance transport of animals and in particular
horses has been discussed with the heads of the veterinary services of the Central and East European
countries which are in the process of negotiating accession to the Union. On the basis of the outcome of
that discussion a protocol for the protection of horses during transport has been agreed.

Furthermore the Commission is seeking a mandate from the Council to negotiate the participation of the
Community in the revised European Convention for the protection of animals during international
transport. This Convention (negotiated under the auspices of the Council of Europe) will help to ensure
an acceptable level of animal welfare protection throughout Europe and to accelerate the process of
harmonization of legislation on animal protection in the candidate countries.

The Commission(cid:146)s control and inspection services check the handling and slaughter of animals during
visits to slaughterhouses in accession countries. If deficiencies are detected they are discussed with the
authorities concerned at the time of the inspections, and are followed up during subsequent contacts with
these authorities.

Concerning the third question, the Community already has a legislative basis to provide financial aid to
improve structures,
the environment and machinery in slaughterhouses in the applicant countries.
The relevant text is Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 on Community support for
pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and
eastern Europe in the pre-accession period (1) (Sapard). To the extent that programmes implementing that
legislation include measures covering the above actions, they will be able to benefit from Community aid.

The PHARE programme also provides support, notably in the context of twinning, to help candidate
countries to comply with the veterinary acquis, including animal welfare.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 89 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1915/00

by Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE) to the Council

(19 June 2000)

Subject: War in Ethiopia and Eritrea

The crisis in Ethiopia, which the Committee on Development and Humanitarian Aid has been faced with
in the last few months in attempting to alleviate the food emergency, has recently been exacerbated by the
worsening of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In an effort to find a way to mediate, the United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution
holding the two nations equally responsible for the warfare, which thus does not take into account the
differing degrees of involvement of aggressor and victim, in the case in point Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Can the Council therefore say what the European Union(cid:146)s position is and what initiatives it intends to take:

1. with regard to the search for a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in the Horn of Africa,

2. with regard to the steps the representative of the European Union(cid:146)s Presidency with responsibility for
the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea intends to take to promote an immediate stop to the conflict,