WRITTEN QUESTION E-3330/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Protection of animals during transportation.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, application of EU law, transport of animals, veterinary inspection

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.