WRITTEN QUESTION E-3129/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Ritual slaughter at Eid-el-Kabir festival.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Islam, animal welfare, customs and traditions, health legislation, infringement of EU law, slaughter of animals, veterinary legislation

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/191

diminishing the incidental catches provoked by longline fisheries; and the adoption at the Food and
agriculture organisation (FAO), in 1999, of the international plan of action (IPOA) for reducing incidental
catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. This plan concerns all States. The Community will present a
Community action plan for seabirds at the next FAO committee of fisheries (COFI), in February 2001.

(1) Council Direcitve 79/409/EC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of the wild birds (OJ L 103, 25.4.1979).
(2) OJ L 6, 10.1.1998.

(2001/C 136 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3128/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: US funding of European federalism

There have been newspaper articles stating that leading figures in the cause of European integration were
funded in their activities through the American Committee for a United Europe, a front for United States
intelligence services.

Such confirm the reports that during the 1975 EEC Referendum in the United Kingdom, disaffected CIA
operatives alerted the leadership of the (cid:145)No(cid:146) campaign that their colleagues were actively involved in the
other camp.

Given that the European Parliament has voiced its concern over Echelon, what is the Council(cid:146)s opinion on
this?

Does the Commission have on file pertinent documents relating to this matter? What is their classification?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

As the Honourable Member knows, the whole Echelon context is at present under review in Parliament(cid:146)s
temporary committee created for that purpose. The Commission participates in the committee and
contributes its own findings wherever possible.

As far as the precise questions of the Honourable Member are concerned, the Commission has no
knowledge or documents relating to this matter.

(2001/C 136 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3129/00

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Ritual slaughter at Eid-el-Kabir festival

For several years, animal protection societies have produced reports and films showing widespread
in France of Council Directive 93/119/EC (1) on the
breaches during the annual Eid-el-Kabir festival
protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing. The Directive is regularly broken in two separate
ways. Firstly, many sheep are ritually slaughtered outdoors; outdoor ritual slaughter is prohibited by the
Directive. Secondly, many of the animals are roughly, even brutally, treated while being carried or dragged
to the slaughter point, while awaiting slaughter and during the act of slaughter itself, which is often carried
out by untrained personnel who in many cases hack and saw at the animals(cid:146) throats often with blunt or
unduly small knives. Despite French claims to have reduced the problem at this year(cid:146)s festival, a huge
number of sheep were slaughtered in breach of the Directive at the festival in March 2000.

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?