WRITTEN QUESTION E-3133/00 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Community aid to the non-fishing industry affected by the tying-up of the Moroccan waters community fleet.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, FIFG, Spain, economic situation, fishery product, fishing agreement, fishing industry, processing industry

C 136 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

What steps is the Commission taking to require the French competent authorities to prevent breaches of
Council Directive 93/119/EC at the Eid-el-Kabir festival in 2001?

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2000)

The Commission is informed about the treatment of the animals during this event. The inadequate
slaughterhouse capacities in certain urban areas of France appear to be one of the reasons for the
observations made by animal protection organizations with regard to the treatment of animals during the
festival.

Treatment of animals which causes suffering during restraint and slaughter is not acceptable. The
find a practical solution for the problem
Commission considers that
concerning slaughterhouse capacity.

the French authorities must

Member States are responsible for the enforcement of Community legislation concerning the slaughter and
killing of animals in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December
1993, on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing.

The Commission has been in contact with the French authorities concerning the need to improve the
arrangements. On this occasion, reassurances were received prior to the festival that French authorities
were taking a wide range of measures including close contacts with the different Islamic cultural groups to
involve them more widely in discussions on this issue in order to improve the situation with the view to
achieve better animal welfare and hygiene conditions.

The French authorities have sent a formal report on the event as requested by the Commission. The
Commission is studying this report. In the light of the information provided by this report as well as from
other sources, further initiatives might be considered including if necessary the opening of infringement
proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(2001/C 136 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3133/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Community aid to the non-fishing industry affected by the tying-up of the Moroccan waters

community fleet

The Community fishing fleet which operated in waters under Moroccan administration has been tied up
since the agreement expired on 13 November 1999. The European Community is making Community
funding available to the fishermen affected to offset the damaging effects of the fleet(cid:146)s being tied up.

this long period of

However,
inactivity is also causing major losses to non-fishing fisheries-related
industries, and indeed other economic sectors in districts which depend on the agreement and indirectly
linked with fisheries. The regional governments of Andalusia and the Canaries, but not the Xunta de
Galicia, are assessing the losses suffered by the non-fishing fisheries sector as a result of the tying-up of the
fleet.

To what extent can the Community co-fund aid to the non-fishing sector, and which Community funds
would it draw on? What steps should the government of the Member State concerned be taking?

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/193

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

No provision is made in Community legislation for specific aid to any part of the fishery sector other than
fishermen themselves in cases where a fishery agreement is not renewed or is suspended.

Aid can however be given for fishing port facilities and fishery product processing and marketing
installations under restructuring programmes for the sector for the period 2000-2006 in both Objective 1
and non-Objective 1 regions. Decisions to grant aid, which must be covered by a programme approved by
the Commission and conform with common fishery policy aims, are taken by the Member State.

(2001/C 136 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/00

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: European anthem

At a concert by the European Youth Orchestra on 20 September 2000, the (cid:145)European anthem(cid:146), originally a
composition by Ludwig van Beethoven, was played as the opening item. As the music started, the
Commissioners, led by President Prodi, suddenly stood up as if for a national anthem. The EU is not a
state nor a nation, so it cannot have a national anthem. What is the legal basis for the Commission(cid:146)s
practice of standing when Beethoven(cid:146)s composition is played?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The choice of a European anthem was one of the items covered by the report which the ad hoc
Committee for a People(cid:146)s Europe chaired by Mr Adonnino, presented to the European Council at the
latter(cid:146)s request on 28/29 June 1985. The European Council formally approved the proposals contained
in the report,
including the proposal relating to the anthem. Parliament recorded its agreement on
13 November 1985 and the Commission did likewise on 10 December 1985.

During an informal meeting of the Presidents of Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 12 March
1986, instructions were given to the Secretaries-General of the three institutions to work out the technical
details of all the European symbols adopted by the European Council. This was done and a decision was
taken on 20 March 1985. Thus the European anthem came into being as one of the symbols of the Union.
This does not mean that it should be treated as a national anthem nor does it give the Union the status of
a state or nation.

Under these circumstances it is usual for the institutions, including Parliament to have the anthem played
on specific occasions and for the Members of the Commission, like any other citizen who wishes to do so,
to stand in order to show their attachment to the common undertaking.

(2001/C 136 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3141/00

by Benedetto Della Vedova (TDI) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Take-over of DHL by Deutsche Post

The press has reported that Deutsche Post AG (DP), the postal services company controlled by the German
Government, is about to take over the DHL group. Since DP has a monopoly on the German market in