WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/00 by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission. EU export subsidies for transport of live animals to third countries.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, export refund, transport of animals

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/69

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question concerns the rate of reimbursement of travel expenses, under a Sicilian
Regional Decree, for Sicilian citizens who travel abroad to receive health care that is unavailable in Italy.

According to the Ministerial Decree of 3 November 1989, which lays down the criteria for obtaining
treatment at highly specialised establishments abroad, Italian citizens resident in Italy are entitled to partial
reimbursement of air fares, subject to prior authorisation, for themselves and, where applicable, an
accompanying person, at the rate of 80 %.

By contrast, the Sicilian Regional Decree of 15 March 1990, in similar situations, stipulates a rate which
varies between 40 % and 60 % of expenses actually incurred and documented, depending on the income of
the person applying for reimbursement.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question concerns Italian national and regional
legislation. As the persons
concerned are Italian nationals, neither the EC Treaty nor Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of 14 June
1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to
members of their families moving within the Community (1) is implicated. The matter involves a conflict of
Italian law, which can only be dealt with by the national courts.

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971 (most recent consolidated version: Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996

(OJ L 28, 30.1.1997)).

(2001/C 103 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/00

by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: EU export subsidies for transport of live animals to third countries

At the present time, export subsidies are paid for transport of live animals to third countries. These
subsidies result in long and often harrowing journeys for the animals.

Does the Commission intend to abolish export subsidies for transport of live animals to third countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2000)

Export of live cattle is an important outlet for the Community beef market and can hardly be substituted
by export of beef meat due to the different slaughtering rites, the lack of coldstores in importing countries
or the specific demand for fresh meat of the required quality in these countries. If the export of live cattle
from the Community were to become impossible by phasing out export refunds, other suppliers would
take over these markets. Australia increasingly exports live cattle to the Arab world with a journey
considerably longer than from the Community.

Furthermore, the Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to Commission
Regulation (EC) No 615/98 of 18 March 1998 laying down specific detailed rules of application for the
live bovine animals during transport (1). This
export refund arrangements as regards the welfare of
Regulation stipulates that the payment of export refund for live animals is subject to compliance with
Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and
amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (2) and provides for an appropriate monitoring system.

(1) OJ L 82, 19.3.1998.
(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.