WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/00 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Council. Implementation of the Birds Directive.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: bird, ecological balance, hunting regulations, petition, protection of animal life

C 113 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

The Commission is not in the position to directly answer to the question why no contract has been
awarded to date since the Member State concerned is responsible for implementing these works.

(2001/C 113 E/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2601/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Collapse of a quay at the port of Heraklion, Crete

(1 August 2000)

On 9 July 2000 the western section of quay 2 of the port of Heraklion on Crete collapsed. The
construction of the quay had been financed under the second CSF.

1. Were the works inspected by the special quality control committee, and were any anomalies found?

2. Why did part of the quay collapse, and who is responsible?

3.

Does the port offer safety guarantees for passenger vessels and car ferries docking there?

4. What action will the Commission take in the wake of these events with a view to imposing sanctions
and supervising the reconstruction of the quay?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 2000)

The Commission did not part-finance construction of the western section of quay 2 at the port of
Heraklion. Its information is that the port authority itself financed the work.

(2001/C 113 E/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2603/00

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Implementation of the Birds Directive

The European Parliament, represented by its President, Mrs Nicole Fontaine, received in March 2000
around 2,2 million signatures of citizens from all countries of Europe expressing their utmost concern
about the persistence of hunting practices that do not respect the conservation requirement of European
legislation on wild birds.

Does the Council share the view of the European Parliament, expressed before, that one closing date
1.
for the hunting season for all bird species, adapted to the earliest species, would be best to (cid:145)secure a
complete system of protection(cid:146) of wild birds in line with the judgments C-157/89 and C-435/92 of the
European Court of Justice?

Does the Council share the view that one opening date for the hunting season for all bird species,

2.
adapted to the latest species, would be best to ensure complete protection of wild birds?

Does the Council also agree that European wide dates would serve legal certainty, implementation

3.
and enforcement?

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/131

Is the Council prepared to consider the wish of Parliament and at least 2,2 million citizens for a
4.
proper implementation of protection requirements of the Birds Directive? Would the Council accept a
guideline ensuring Europe-wide and proper implementation of the Birds Directive?

Reply

(20 November 2000)

The Council understands the concern voiced by the Honourable Member and the other signatories of the
petition.

It considers, however, that the approach adopted in Article 7(4) of Directive 79/409 (1), which does not lay
is an appropriate
down single closing and opening dates for the hunting season in the Community,
solution, which takes account of the biological and ecological diversity of the vast area of territory to
which the Directive applies.

The Council would stress that the dates applied in the Member States must, under the terms of the above
Article, comply with the principles of wise use and ecologically balanced control of the species of wild
birds concerned.

Moreover, Article 2 of the Directive stipulates that (cid:145)Member States shall take the requisite measures to
maintain the population of the species referred to in Article 1 at a level which corresponds in particular to
ecological, scientific and cultural requirements, while taking account of economic and recreational
requirements, or to adapt to the population of these species to that level(cid:146).

It is the responsibility of the Commission to ensure that the Directive is properly implemented.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2001/C 113 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2605/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Measures to support the dried fruit sector

(1 August 2000)

The general reform of the fruit and vegetable sector (cid:129) which includes almonds, locust beans, hazelnuts,
walnuts and chestnuts in the new common organisation of the market (cid:129) will mean the end of specific
support measures for the sector (improvement plans).

Commissioner Fischler has mentioned the possibility of specific EU intervention in favour of such crops
under the rural development programmes.

Does the Commission approve of EU intervention in favour of dried fruits through the rural development
programmes?

If so, what specific support measures for the dried fruit sector have been laid down in the rural
development programme for Spain in general, and for the Balearics region in particular?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

Financial support for Community nut production under Title IIa of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72
of 18 May 1972 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1) was discussed at the
Council meeting (agriculture) of 17 July 2000. The Ministers concluded that the Council should ask the
Commission to propose that payments to nut growers be continued under the budget for 2001 for those
programmes that would otherwise expire in 2000.