WRITTEN QUESTION E-2637/00 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transport of live animals.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, application of EU law, export (EU), export refund, national implementing measure, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary inspection

C 136 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

numerous. However, the amounts of corrections made to expenditure declared by Member States and the
reasons for each correction, are indicated in the different clearance decisions published in the Official
journal, and are covered in more detail in a summary report accompanying each decision.

(1) OJ L 391, 31.12.1992.
(2) OJ L 355, 5.12.1992.
(3) OJ L 94, 28.4.1970.
(4) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 136 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2637/00

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Transport of live animals

The directive on the protection of animals during transport (Directive 91/628/EEC (1) in the amended
version of 1995/29/EC (2))
lays down the current legal framework for the transport of live animals.
Compliance with this directive would make for a sound level of animal protection. Unfortunately, the
directive is often not implemented properly in the Member States, one serious problem being the
inadequate checks on shipments of animals by the competent authorities.

What steps is the Commission taking to foster the implementation of Directive 91/628/EEC in the Member
States and step up checks on shipments of live animals?

Is the Commission prepared to reduce or discontinue export refunds for live animals?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

While Member States are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of Community legislation, the Food
and Veterinary Office of the Commission undertakes specific control and inspection missions to check that
Member States apply Community legislation in an effective and uniform manner.

These checks have revealed certain shortcomings in the compliance of some Member States with the
Community legislation regarding the protection of animals during transport. As a result infringement
proceedings have been opened against certain Member States and others are under evaluation.

The Commission will present to the Council and to the Parliament, before the end of the year, a report on
the implementation in the Member States of Community legislation on the protection of animals during
transport to the Council and to the Parliament.

Following the conclusion of this report the Commission intends to present proposals to improve the
transport of animals.

Export of live animals is an important outlet for the Community beef market and cannot really be
substituted by the 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 quality required in these countries.
Additionally the export of breeding animals is a substantial part of the overall export of live animals and
cannot be replaced either. If the export of live animals from the Community were to become impossible
by phasing out export refunds, other suppliers would take over these markets. Australia, for example,
increasingly exports live animals to the Arab world with a journey considerably longer than from the
Community.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Furthermore Commission Regulation (EC) No 615/98 of 18 March 1998 provides specific detailed rules of
application for export refund arrangements as regards the welfare of
live bovine animals during
transport (1) to third countries.

Under the above mentioned Regulation every consignment of bovine animals sent to third countries is
required to comply, during the transport to the first place of unloading in the third country of final
destination, with Community legislation in the field of
the protection of animals during transport.
Regulation (EC) No 615/98 provides for the possibility to carry out a veterinary check on the animals
after their arrival in the third country of final destination.

When the results of these inspections (which must be carried out by a veterinarian) are not satisfactory as
far as animal welfare is concerned, the payment of the export refund is refused or if already granted is
recoverable.

(1) OJ L 82, 19.3.1998.

(2001/C 136 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2639/00

by Claude Turmes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Enlargement and gender impact studies

The overall changes in the 90s have had a strong impact on the social and economic situation of people in
the eastern countries. Income has fallen, loss of jobs has been huge, social security systems have fallen
apart and the level of crime has risen. Women, who were formally considered as equal beings before, who
had equal pay in jobs and equal education and had access to child care, are generally worse off today than
15 years ago.

The Commission(cid:146)s commitment to gender mainstreaming means that the accession strategy should include
gender awareness on all levels. For that purpose, the Commission should start with gender impact studies
of the enlargement and propose on the basis of those studies activities that lead to gender equality (and
empowerment of women). Of course, the focus should be on gender, i.e. both sexes.

What studies on gender impact are in progress? Concerning which countries?

Can the Commission make them available, or, if they are not advanced enough, can Parliament be given
their terms of reference?

What are the criteria used in the studies?

If no such studies exist, why does the Commission not take seriously a Commission commitment which
has existed since 1995?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

The Commssion is aware that changes since the fall of Communism have had a strong impact on the
social and economic situation of people in the eastern countries, and that these changes have, in some
cases, resulted in a worsening situation for women. Through the negotiation process and the pre-accession
tools, in particular the regular reports, the Commission is actively overseeing and monitoring the full
transposition and implementation of the Community (cid:145)acquis(cid:146) in this area.