WRITTEN QUESTION E-1915/00 by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Council. War in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Date: 2000-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, Eritrea, Ethiopia, common foreign and security policy, establishment of peace, return migration, war victim

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,

C 89 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

3. with regard to the practical measures the representative of the European Union(cid:146)s Presidency,

in
tandem with the Presidency of the OAU, plans to carry out at once to sustain the civilian peoples who
are victims of the conflict?

4. Can the Council also report on whether evacuation plans for EU citizens, coordinated between the

various Member States, exist?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

On 18 June 2000 the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea signed an agreement on the cessation of
hostilities, proposed by the OAU, which the Feira European Council welcomed in its declaration of
20 June 2000. The Council subsequently adopted, on 29 June 2000, Common Position 2000/420/CFSP
concerning EU support for the OAU peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Under that common
position, the European Union will support, in particular, the deployment of international observers, the
delimitation and demarcation of borders, mine-clearance and efforts to assist refugees and displaced
persons.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention is also drawn to the fact that Senator Rino Serri(cid:146)s mandate as the
Presidency(cid:146)s special representative for Ethiopia/Eritrea was recently extended for a further six months.

(2001/C 89 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1916/00

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

(16 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 Commission 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,

3. with regard to the practical measures the representative of the European Union(cid:146)s Presidency,

in
tandem with the Presidency of the OAU, plans to carry out at once to sustain the civilian peoples who
are victims of the conflict?

4. Can the Commission also report on whether evacuation plans for EU citizens, coordinated between

the various Member States, exist?