WRITTEN QUESTION E-3334/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Supplementary social security and health insurance schemes.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, additional benefit, competence of the Member States, health insurance, supplementary pension

C 151 E/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3330/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Protection of animals during transportation

Article 8 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (1) (as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC) (2) concerning
the protection of animals during transport provides that the competent authority in each Member State
shall submit to the Comission an annual report stating the number of inspections carried out in the
preceding calendar year in respect of (a) means of transport and animals during transport by road and at
certain specified places and (b) the particulars on the accompanying documents. Article 8 stipulates that
the annual Member State reports must also include details of any reported infringements and the action
taken as a result by the competent authority.

Will the Commission state whether all Member States have complied with the above requirements in (a)
1998 and (b) 1999. If not, which Member States have failed in either of these years to provide an annual
report including all the details required under Article 8 and what action is the Commission taking in
respect of those Member States?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2000)

The Commission has received the above-mentioned report in relation to the year 1998 from twelve
Member States. Three Member States failed to comply with this requirement of the Directive (Belgium,
Greece and Portugal).

The Commission has received six reports in relation to the year 1999 (Belgium, Germany, Spain,
Luxembourg Finland and Sweden). However it should be noted that Article 8 of the Directive does not
provide a particular deadline for the transmission of the report to the Commission.

Since May 2000 the Commission has regularly reminded the Member States of the requirement through
the standing veterinary committee.

Unless it receives the outstanding reports for 1998, it will consider opening infringement proceedings
against Member States concerned. It will also formally request the Member States that have not reported
for 1999 to do so as soon as possible.

(2001/C 151 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3334/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Supplementary social security and health insurance schemes

It is becoming increasingly common for national social security schemes and health services to be in the
red, adding to State budget deficits and the national debt. One means of remedying the difficulties might
be supplementary schemes, which could benefit citizens as well as State social security and health
institutions. Supplementary pension schemes or health insurance would afford additional protection to
workers, enabling them to secure a high standard of health care reasonably quickly.

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/139

1. What are the Commission(cid:146)s views on this subject?

2.

In which Member States is a supplementary pension and health scheme already in operation?

3. Will the Commission submit proposals calling for the introduction of supplementary schemes,
especially where health insurance is concerned, so as to guarantee free access to essential health services
without discrimination of any kind?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2000)

The organisation of social security schemes and the relative roles of basic and supplementary schemes are
the responsibility of
that
supplementary pension schemes exist in all Member States, although their scope varies considerably,
especially in terms of whether or not they are compulsory and whether or not they are linked to collective
agreements.

the Commission would like to point out

the Member States. However,

In the field of health insurance, the existence of supplementary schemes depends primarily on the quality
of basis cover.

Supplementary pension and health insurance schemes may fill certain gaps left by basic schemes, especially
where these provide only limited benefits, possibly as a result of budget-balancing measures targeting
health systems. However, it is difficult to organise supplementary schemes so as to provide optimum cover
for everyone. In the case of pensions, high administrative costs can exclude people on low incomes, and
inadequate provision for the transferability of rights can penalise the more mobile workers.

The characteristic features of supplementary health insurance schemes, especially the problems of risk
selection and exclusion of the most vulnerable individuals, should be examined in detail before a decision
is taken on the need for a legal framework at European level. This examination could take place as part of
the follow-up to the report on supplementary health insurance recently adopted by the European
Parliament.

In any event, the Commission would like to draw the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that it is
essentially the task of the Member States to ensure a high level of social protection, either through basic or
supplementary schemes.

(2001/C 151 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3338/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Golf course in the commune of Settimo San Pietro, Cagliari (Italy)

On 9 September 2000 a golf course was opened in the commune of Settimo San Pietro (province of
Cagliari). The course is illuminated and has a roofed area, bunkers, and putting-greens. The project, which
also includes a plan to develop the site into an 18-hole course within two years, has received funding
under the Greater Cagliari Spatial Planning Agreement covering 68 % of the cost (the total cost of the
amenity is ITL 14,5 billion).

On 21 July 2000 Sardinia Region was officially declared a natural disaster area on account of the
persistent drought.

Although the estimated water consumption of the golf practice course is approximately 2 000 m3 a day,
equivalent to the daily consumption of a locality of 8 000 people, no environmental impact assessment (1)
has been carried out.