WRITTEN QUESTION E-3451/00 by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Commission. Non-commercial transport of pets.
Date: 2000-11-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: approximation of laws, domestic animal, health control, transport of animals

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/123

An interesting development worth mentioning is the new double taxation convention between Austria and
Germany which has been signed but not yet ratified. This convention provides that when the competent
authorities are not able to resolve difficulties or doubts concerning the interpretation or application of the
convention within a period of two years; they shall, at the request of the taxpayer, bring the case before
the Court of Justice in accordance with Article 239 (ex 182) of the EC Treaty. The Commission has noted
this development with interest and encourages other Member States to consider taking similar steps.

(1) Convention 90/463/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the elimination of double taxation in connection with the adjustment

of profits of associated companies (OJ L 225, 20.8.1990).

(2001/C 163 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3451/00

by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Non-commercial transport of pets

The Weil report (for the High-Level Group on the Free Movement of Persons) noted a large number of
persistent barriers to free movement.

Out of a total population of 370 million, there are, currently, 5,5 million Community citizens (or 1,5 %)
established in the territory of a Member State other than their country of origin. They therefore constitute
a small number of citizens, but their impact on the Union is very important.

The Commission has been complaining about the difficulties it had in recruiting sufficient staff to manage,
for example, the LIFE Programme.

Every year, a large number of pets are abandoned in various countries.

The Commission:

1. Does it really believe that the proposal for a regulation on the health checks applicable to the non-

commercial transport of pets was necessary?

2. How many people will be affected by this regulation? Has the Commission calculated how many

animals are covered by this legislation?

3. What criteria did the Commission apply as regards efficiency and legislative priority?

4. What measures may a country take in the event of serious health risks?

Answer given Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

1.
The Commission felt there was a need for Community health rules applicable to movements of pet
animals. The aim of the document is to achieve harmonisation (1), based on the rules in force in the
Member States, with the intention of removing national peculiarities which are unjustified and incompre-
hensible to European citizens.

2.
The provisions of the draft concern both citizens resident outside their Member State of origin and
all those who travel or holiday outside their Member State of residence accompanied by their cat or dog.
In other words, tens of millions of European citizens are concerned by this proposal for harmonisation.

C 163 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

The ending of quarantine for cats and dogs by the UK authorities from January 2000, under an
3.
experimental programme, has eased the situation and allowed the Commission to table this proposal for
harmonisation, which in the past would have been inconceivable. The Commission has thus seized the
opportunity offered by the UK government(cid:146)s historic decision and has proceeded with a harmonisation
operation which it considers useful, necessary and beneficial to the majority.

4.
Finally, the manifestation of a serious risk necessitating emergency measures is covered by the third
paragraph of Article 5 of the proposal, which makes provision for an urgent procedure, in the form of the
adoption of a Commission decision pursuant
to an opinion delivered by the Standing Veterinary
Committee.

(1) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal-health requirements

applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals, COM(2000) 529 final.

(2001/C 163 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3452/00

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Annual report on the state of the drugs problem

In the past few days the 2000 Annual report on the state of the drugs problem in the European Union was
published. It represents an important opportunity to examine for the first time the results of the strategy
for the period 2000-2004 adopted by the European Union at the Helsinki European Council in 1999.

Amongst the conclusions reached in the report are the following:

(cid:129) cannabis remains the most widely available drug in the EU; at least 45 million European citizens have
tried it at least once: it is the primary drug in drug offences and its use is particularly high among the
younger age groups:

(cid:129) amphetamines and ecstasy are the second most commonly used drugs and their use is shifting away

from large dance events to smaller, more diffuse settings;

(cid:129) the use of cocaine is rising and spreading to a broader population;

(cid:129) heroin users are largely adults with serious health, social and psychiatric problems;

(cid:129) HIV and hepatitis A and B prevalence among injecting drug users appears to be stable;

(cid:129) in many European countries policies to combat the drugs problem are placing greater emphasis on
reduction of demand rather than supply, are based on drug prevention schemes and crime deterrence
relying on accurate scientific evidence, and are providing for procedures for the decriminalisation of
offences based on the degree of use and type of drug used.

In view of these facts, does the Commission believe that it is necessary to adopt direct measures and
guidelines for the Member States which are in keeping with the above-mentioned trends and tailored to
the new characteristics of the drugs problem?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

The information presented in the 2000 Annual report of the European monitoring center for drugs and
drug addiction (Emcdda), as well as information from previous reports, has been carefully examined and
utilised in drafting the EU Drug Strategy (1) and the Union action plan on drugs 2000-2004 (2). Thanks to
these reports the Commission now has a much more accurate and reliable picture of the drug problems in
Union.