WRITTEN QUESTION E-3816/00 by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community rules on the transport of live animals.
Date: 2000-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy - national policy, Slovenia, animal welfare, transport of animals

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/153

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2001)

In line with the common strategy of the Union on Russia, addressing the social consequences of transition
is one of the priorities of the Tacis programme for Russia for the period 2000-2003. This mainly concerns
strengthening the reform of the social sector, while covering the basic security needs of the population,
particularly vulnerable groups. Efforts so far have not focused on prisons, but rather on reforming the
health system as a whole,
including development of primary health care (general practitioners) and
promotion of health prevention. These technical assistance initiatives should be expanded in the future
and could cover prisons as well, provided the Russian authorities press ahead with their new reform
programme, which rightly treats social issues as a priority.

Humanitarian aid has been supplied by the Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) to ease the
difficult living conditions of the most vulnerable in selected institutions (including prisons), as well as of TB
patients in chosen pilot areas. However, in view of further funding constraints in 2001 and the continuing
humanitarian crisis stemming from the Chechnya conflict, ECHO(cid:146)s priority will be emergency operations
in the Northern Caucasus.

In addition to this limited humanitarian aid and to systemic health reform projects, addressing the issue of
Russian prisons, parallel actions could contribute to improve the judicial system itself. Tacis funds have
already been allocated to promote the legal protection of individual rights. Support will be given to non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) providing legal advice to citizens and will, thus, seek to reduce the
unfavourable statistics that the Honourable Member quotes. For the future, a priority would be the
improved training of Russian judges. The Commission is studying the possibility of a large Tacis project in
support to the newly established Academy of Justice. Furthermore, twinning of Community and Russian
courts will be possible under the new Tacis institution building partnership programme, currently under
development.

(2001/C 174 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3816/00

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Community rules on the transport of live animals

Will the Commission guarantee that, when bringing forward its action on enforcement of Community
rules on the transport of live animals, it sets standards that are no less stringent than those recently
imposed by the Government of Slovenia?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

The protection of animals during transport is an important concern for the Commission. The first
Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport was adopted in 1977. Since then it
has been replaced by Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals
during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (1) as amended by Council
Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 (2) which introduced important changes such as the approval of
transporters and the route plan as well as loading densities and travelling time limits.

On 16 October 2000 the Slovenian government started to carry out inspections and controls on the cross
border transport of animals to verify compliance with the relevant Community legislation on transport
conditions and travel times, as incorporated into national Slovenian law.

C 174 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

the Slovenian government comes in response to the action plan for short-term
The initiative of
improvements concerning the protection of animals during long-distance transport presented by the
Member of the Commission responsible for Health and Consumer Protection in May 2000 to all candidate
countries.

The action plan for short-term improvements for the protection of animals during long distance transport
was discussed at
the TAIEX (Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office) meeting of Chief
Veterinary Officers of the candidate countries in Lisbon in April 2000. It foresees enforcement in the
short term of key requirements of Community legislation on animal transport, notably for the transport of
horses.

The quick follow-up to the action plan was first announced by the Slovenian veterinary authorities at the
TAIEX seminar on the protection of animals during transport held in Bratislava in September 2000. The
TAIEX Office has developed programmes, i.e. training to raise awareness on animal health and welfare
issues, including the transport of animals, for the general public and in particular for veterinarians in the
candidate countries. TAIEX has also established a Working group of officials from all candidate countries
to assist the process of adoption and implementation of Community rules on animal welfare. The next
meeting of this group, scheduled for February 2001, will specifically deal with the implementation of rules
on the protection of animals during transport.

Furthermore, the Commission has also recently adopted a report (3) on the experience acquired by Member
States since the implementation of the Directive on the protection of animals during transport. The
document has been submitted to the Council and to the Parliament. Following the outcome of the report
the Commission will start to review the current legislation in order to continue to improve the situation.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.
(3) Report from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on the experience acquired by Member States since
the implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of
animals during transport, COM(2000) 809 final.

(2001/C 174 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3817/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Transport of live animals

How are the relevant Transport Directives being enforced with regard to the long distance transport of live
animals?

What is the European Commission doing to address the many representations it is receiving about the
cruelty and suffering involved in the transport of live animals?

What reports has the European Commission published on this subject since 1 January 1995?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2001)

The Commissions refers the Honourable Member to the reply to the Written Question E-3809/00 by
Mr MacCormick (1).

It should be noted that the Commission has fulfilled its obligation in relation to Article 13(3) of Council
Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 amending Directive 90/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals
during transport (2) which provides the Commission to submit a report on the experience acquired by
Member States since the implementation of the Directive.