WRITTEN QUESTION E-2659/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European ban on the keeping of dangerous dogs.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, domestic animal, import, livestock farming, public safety

C 113 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

(2001/C 113 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2659/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: European ban on the keeping of dangerous dogs

In recent weeks, the death of a young boy in Germany, who had been attacked and literally torn to pieces
by a pitbull dog, as well as a large number of other incidents of a similar nature, have caused a great
sensation and led to a situation where the keeping of dangerous dogs in Germany is now subject to
extremely strict rules. In this regard, does not the Commission deem it necessary to establish uniform
European standards resulting in a total ban on the breeding, import and keeping of dangerous dogs so as
to ensure that such incidents cannot recur in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

The Commission is aware of the danger that the keeping of combat dogs represents as far as the
protection of human life is concerned.

However, the Commission(cid:146)s work programme currently includes no plans for rules to introduce a total ban
on the breeding, import and keeping of combat dogs on the territory of the Community.

Against this background, the Commission tends to the view that it is the responsibility of the Member
States, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, to take the appropriate measures to reflect national
sensibilities, while complying with the rules of the EC Treaty.

Accordingly, although Article 28 stipulates that Member States may not adopt national measures that
create restrictions on the free movement of the animals concerned, Article 30 authorises them to do so if
such measures are justified on grounds of the protection of the health and life of humans, provided that
the restrictions concerned are proportionate to the objective to be attained and are applicable without
distinction.

(2001/C 113 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2660/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(3 August 2000)

Subject: Persecution in the Moluccas

The European Parliament has already adopted two resolutions on human rights violations in the Moluccas
(Indonesia), the first in January 2000 and the second in July 2000,
in order to protest against the
persecution of Christians and the devastation of villages inhabited by Indonesians practising the Christian
religion, violations which have now been going on for months.

Can the Council indicate what it has done on the basis of those two resolutions to bring about a genuine
improvement in the situation?

Reply

(30 November 2000)

The Council has on several occasions, in particular through the Heads of Mission of the EU Member States
represented in Jakarta, raised with the Indonesian authorities (cid:129) including the President and the Vice-
President of the Republic (cid:129) its deep concern at the inter-community conflict in the Moluccas. It has called,
inter alia, for free access for humanitarian organisations. The Community is giving consideration to a
further contribution of some € 2 million in humanitarian assistance to displaced persons.