WRITTEN QUESTION E-3755/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Spatial planning in the EU: Interreg II C.
Date: 2000-12-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU initiative, accession to the European Union, coastal region, cross-border cooperation, peripheral region, town and country planning

C 174 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

(2001/C 174 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3752/00

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Ivory trade

Given that the imports into the European Union of commercial ivory for non-personal use have been
prohibited since 1990, can the Commission confirm what information it has on stocks of ivory currently
held in the Member States of the European Union? If it has no such information, can it state how it
monitors the sale of ivory in the EU and, ensures that only ivory with exemption certificates under Article
10 of Regulation 338/97 (1) may be sold?

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

The Commission does not possess information on stocks of ivory currently held in the Member States.
Under Council Regulation (EC) 338/97 of 9 December 1996 (1) and Commission Regulation 939/97 of
26 May 1997 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No
338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (2), there are no
controls on the sale of worked ivory acquired before 1 June 1947. Raw ivory and worked ivory of more
recent origin can only be sold under an exemption granted on a case-by-case basis by the competent
authority of the Member State in which the specimen is located.

The monitoring of compliance with the provisions of these Regulations is a responsibility of the Member
States, although the Commission can and does draw the attention of the authorities of the Member States
to circumstances and situations whose investigation appears necessary.

(1) OJ C 61, 3.3.1997.
(2) OJ C 140, 30.5.1997.

(2001/C 174 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3755/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Spatial planning in the EU: Interreg II C

(4 December 2000)

Interreg II C was one of the Community initiatives adopted during the 1994-1999 programming period
under which funding was given to a series of projects aimed at promoting transnational cooperation in the
sphere of spatial planning.

Can the Commission provide information on the results of Interreg II C and the conclusions it has drawn
from those results, as well as their relationship to and influence on the European Spatial Strategy,
especially regarding the outlying maritime regions of Objective 1 as it applies to the existing EU of fifteen?

Can the Commission provide information on the conclusions it has drawn from Interreg II C concerning
the impact of the expected accession of the candidate countries on the outlying maritime regions of
Objective 1 as it applies to the existing EU of fifteen?

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/137

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

The aims of strand C of the Community Interreg II initiative on transnational cooperation were: to help
restore the balance between different areas of the Community; to foster transnational cooperation and
partnership within a common framework; to help Member States and their regions to take a preventive
and cooperative approach to common problems; and, lastly, to improve the impact of Community policies
on spatial development. The latter aim was closely linked to the European Spatial Development Perspective
(ESDP).

To date, only a few programmes covered by Interreg II C have undergone an interim assessment. Since
others are currently being assessed, it would be premature to draw conclusions from the few completed
interim assessments and hence to provide only partial results.

Also, in accordance with the EC Treaty, the second report on economic and social cohesion will examine
how disparities between Member States and regions (including peripheral maritime regions) have changed
and how Community policies (including structural policies and particularly Interreg) have helped to reduce
those disparities. By focusing on the situation facing a Union of 27 members, the second report will be
able to set out guidelines for future cohesion policy. The report will be published at the beginning of 2001
and will be submitted at a forum on cohesion which will be held in Brussels on 21 May.

(2001/C 174 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3765/00

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 December 2000)

Subject: Transport of live animals over long distances

In recent years the transport of animals in Europe has increased because the EU always used to regard
living animals as products. This had to be changed thanks to the legally binding protocol of 1997 which
came into force in 1999, and which acknowledged that living animals are sentient beings. However, this
has not resulted in living animals being spared long journeys. All kinds of provisions in the protocol mean
that animals can still be transported from Aberdeen to Athens for slaughter.

Can the Commission explain why animals which are recognised as sentient beings still have to suffer

1.
distress during their long transport journeys?

Is the Commission aware of the serious animal welfare problems and infringements of the law which

2.
have been noted by animal welfare organisations and have shocked public opinion?

3. What concrete initiatives has the Commission taken as a result of the discussion of this issue at the
Agriculture Council in June, at which several Member States expressed their grave concern about animal
welfare during long-distance transport and called for a fundamental review of policy in this area,
particularly the replacement of long-distance live animal transport by trading in meat and carcasses?
Does the Commission consider that long-distance live animal transport should be replaced by the trading
in meat and carcasses?

(a)

If so, when will the Commission introduce a ban on the transport of live animals?

(b)

If not, what additional measures will the Commission take to make the legal protection of animals as
sentient beings effective?

4.
In how many cases are export subsidies withdrawn or not paid on the grounds of failure to comply
with the provisions of Regulation (EC) 1254/1999 (1) on the common organisation of the market in beef
and veal with regard to animal welfare?

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21.