WRITTEN QUESTION E-3501/00 by Chris Davies (ELDR) and Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. Killing of protected bird species in Cyprus.
Date: 2000-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, accession negotiations, accession to the European Union, bird, environmental protection, protected species

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/143

the Commission accept the Turkish Minister(cid:146)s accusations of racism in the EU when Turkey stands charged
with the extermination and expulsion (cid:129) in the 20th century (cid:129) of Greek Cypriots, Asia Minor Greeks,
Armenians, and recently, Kurds living on its territory?

Moreover, as the preamble to the Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union states:
taking inspiration from its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal
principles of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy
and the rule of law.

Will the Commission say what the European tradition in the above spheres has in common with the
conduct of the current Turkish regime (cid:129) a state classified as a (cid:145)candidate for accession(cid:146) (cid:129) which persecutes
its citizens for their religious and political beliefs, and tortures and imprisons anyone who opposes its
objectives?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The issues raised by the Honourable Member are covered in the conclusions of the European Council of
Helsinki held in December 1999. It is on this basis that the Commission in its contacts with Turkey
discusses the pre-accession strategy for Turkey, the Cyprus issue and the matter of outstanding border
disputes.

The views of the Commission on the issue of minorities living in Turkey have been put forward recently in
the draft accession partnership for Turkey, adopted by the Commission on 8 November 2000. In the
medium term, Turkey should ensure cultural diversity and guarantee cultural rights for all citizens
irrespective of their origin. Any legal provisions preventing these rights should be abolished including in
the field of education.

Equally, this document identifies priorities for Turkey,
in line with its status as candidate country, to
address other human right issues as mentioned by the Honourable Member, such as torture and the further
development of freedom of religion.

(2001/C 163 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3501/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) and Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Killing of protected bird species in Cyprus

(10 November 2000)

The Times newspaper (UK) reported in October 2000 that Peter Cosgrove, a British birdwatcher on
holiday in Cyprus, was accused of spying after he took photographs of local people trapping and killing
brutally (by tearing their legs off) thousands of migrating birds, including nightingales and red-backed
shrikes, protected by EU law.

Has the Commission raised with the Cypriot Government as part of its accession negotiations the issue of
compliance with the Habitats Directive, and, if so, what assurances has it been given regarding measures to
curb abuses of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2000)

The preparations by the candidate countries for implementing Community nature protection legislation
(the Habitats (1) and Birds (2) directives) are followed closely by the Community in the framework of the
accession negotiations as part of the environment chapter. In preparing Community positions in this

C 163 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

chapter and monitoring the progress towards accession, the Commission is in continuous contact with the
candidate countries on all questions relating to the environmental acquis. As for the above-mentioned
directives, the Commission has held consultations with the candidates with a view to making the necessary
technical adaptations of the lists of habitats and species annexed to the directives.

Cyprus is therefore well aware of the obligations of a Member State in respect of the environmental acquis,
including the Birds and Habitats directives. It is also party to the Bern Convention on the conservation of
European wildlife and natural habitats. Cyprus, together with the other candidates, is strongly encouraged
to respect the spirit of the environmental acquis before accession. In particular, the Commission has
pointed out that there are bird-trapping methods, such as those mentioned by the Honourable Members,
which are incompatible with the provisions of the Birds Directive. The Commission will continue to
monitor Cyprus(cid:146) progress in completing the harmonisation process and in establishing the administrative
capacity necessary to implement the acquis.

(1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora

(OJ L 206, 22.7.1992).

(2) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 103, 25.4.1979).

(2001/C 163 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3505/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Monitoring of farm subsidies and policy on penalties

(10 November 2000)

Finland is likely to have to repay around 25 million marks in agricultural subsidies received from the EU,
on account of inadequate monitoring. This sum relates to the whole period of Finland(cid:146)s membership of the
EU.

Our Minister of Agriculture, Kalevi Hemil(cid:228), has publicly complained that the erroneous allocation of
subsidies was caused by the EU(cid:146)s extremely strict, bureaucratic and precisely regulated monitoring.

In his opinion, unreasonable penalties are being imposed for minor faults in the administration of
subsidies. If a single cow(cid:146)s eartag is missing, all the cattle may be denied subsidies. Similarly, if a stone
ruin or a small barn is omitted from surface area calculations, a whole area of arable farmland may be
declared ineligible for subsidy.

The Ministers of Agriculture have accordingly proposed to the Commission that the penalty system be
simplified.

1.

Has a working party already been set up to plan a simplified penalty system?

2. What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of the proposal that the loss of subsidy could apply only to an
individual case on each occasion?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

With regard to comments on the imposition of (cid:145)unreasonable penalties(cid:146), the Commission would emphasise
the importance attached to the respect of proportionality of sanctions in the Integrated administration and
central system (IACS) legislation. Nevertheless, there is a clear need for a sanctions system to ensure the
proper management and safeguarding of Community funds. Persons claiming Community aids should
respect the rules, especially those related to eligibility for aids, and those found to be in non-compliance
should be penalised proportionately.
In respect of the examples cited in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s
question, the Commission is unaware of any sanctions being applied in the way described (i.e. total refusal
for a relatively minor irregularity), although it confirms that a percentage reduction might be applicable to
the overall aid application.