WRITTEN QUESTION P-2811/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Improving the standard of slaughterhouses in candidate Member States.
Date: 2000-09-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, EU financing, meat processing industry

C 151 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

With a view to encouraging Community cooperation in education, Parliament and the Council have
adopted the Socrates (1) programme. In the field of school education, this programme contributes to
promoting a European dimension by supporting projects submitted by the Member States relating to
school partnerships between schools in different Member States, transnational projects in the field of
teacher training, and transnational networks focusing on current educational issues.

In this context:

1. No fixed amount of money is specifically allocated to promoting a European dimension;

2. The ways of promoting this dimension depend on the contents of the projects presented by the

Member States;

3. The transnational nature of projects ensures cultural diversity and respect for different national

identities;

4. and 5. The organisation of the education systems, including the contents of education and access to

schooling, come within the competence of the Member States.

(1) Decision No 253/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 January 2000 establishing the

second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education (cid:145)Socrates(cid:146) (OJ L 28, 3.2.2000).

(2001/C 151 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2811/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 September 2000)

Subject: Improving the standard of slaughterhouses in candidate Member States

In view of the impending accession of a number of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs),
representatives of the EU(cid:146)s agricultural sector are establishing contacts with possible partners in those
countries. It appears that slaughterhouses in the CEECs rarely, if ever, comply with the strict European
standards. Representatives of the Belgian slaughterhouses also point out that a number of slaughterhouses
have had to be demolished because of their limited capacity. Provided the plans are modified, there is
sufficient expertise within the Union to rebuild the demolished slaughterhouses, if so requested by the
CEECs, thereby enabling them to be used again.

Can the Commission say whether it supports this approach (recommissioning of old and/or dismantled
slaughterhouses) and whether it is willing to provide financial aid for pilot projects for the (re-)construc-
tion and modification of these CEEC slaughterhouses so that they comply with European standards?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2000)

The Commission does not have a view on the merits of re-commissioning of old or dismantled slaughter-
houses in the applicant countries mentioned by the Honourable Member. It does however consider that,
consistent with the provisions of 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), it is in the Community interest for support to be
given to applicant countries mentioned in that regulation to improve processing and marketing of
including meats. The Commission anticipates that in countries where there is a
agricultural products,
need for the (re-) construction and modification of slaughterhouses, Community aid will be granted so that
they comply with European standards, without it being limited to pilot projects.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.