WRITTEN QUESTION E-3832/00 by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission. European Southern Observatory.
Date: 2000-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European Commission, European organisation, astronomy, interinstitutional relations, space research, world organisation

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/157

(2001/C 174 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3832/00

by Rolf Linkohr (PSE) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: European Southern Observatory

What is the nature of the relationship between the Commission and the ESO (European Southern
Observatory)?

Has the Commission helped to fund ESO research projects in the past, and/or does it intend to do so in
the future?

Should the EU enter into a partnership with the ESO similar to that with the ESA (European Space
Agency)?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2001)

The ESO is a European intergovernmental organisation which occupies a central position in astronomy in
Europe. There is no formal link between the ESO and the Commission other than those deriving from its
involvement in the framework programme for research and technological development.

The ESO receives many Community contracts. One may mention, in particular, the Astrovirtel project
funded as part of the (cid:145)Access to research infrastructures(cid:146) project within the (cid:145)Boosting the human potential
of research(cid:146) programme. That project embraces the first virtual
telescope permitting access to the
phenomenal flow of data from the large international telescopes.

In contrast to space policy the Commission does not play an active part in astronomical research. There is
thus no intention to enter into a partnership with the ESO similar to that recently brought into being with
the European Space Agency (ESA). Nevertheless, that organisation continues to be one of the Commis-
sion(cid:146)s major partners since it is at the forefront in Europe in its particular area. That is especially true in
terms of the thinking currently on implementing the European research area project.

(2001/C 174 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3833/00

by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Threats to official vets and animal welfare organisations

(7 December 2000)

In the light of the current case in which the head of the animal welfare organisation GAIA received threats
for publishing a video about the situation at Belgian slaughterhouses, and bearing in mind cases which
have come to my attention in which official vets and animal transport inspectors have been threatened in
the EU, having repeatedly been subjected to massive threats by the transport companies(cid:146) lobby on account
of their commitment to compliance with Directive 91/628/EC (1):

1. What information does the Commission have concerning the practice of intimidating and/or black-
mailing official vets or other authorities and organisations with the aim of wholly or partially evading
animal welfare provisions, which often entail considerable expense, in order to obtain export refunds?

2. Are there grounds for suspecting that criminal organisations are committing offences, either in
individual cases or even systematically, with the result that payments are being wrongly made from
EU funds?

3.

the answer to any of

If
Commission take at Community level in order to remedy such an unacceptable situation?

these questions is even partially affirmative, what measures will

the

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.