WRITTEN QUESTION E-3981/00 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Import of dog and cat fur.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United States, domestic animal, hides and furskins industry, import, international trade, marketing restriction, protection of animals

C 163 E/232

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2001)

The Honourable Members gave the Commission the opportunity to state its position on human rights in
Tunisia at the June 2000 part session and during a debate and the Commission outlined the reasons for
which it considers it appropriate at this stage to make use of the positive instruments in the Euro-
Mediterranean partnership, namely political dialogue and Community financing, to deal with criticisms of
human rights in Tunisia.

there have been a number of developments, both good and bad. Although the
Since the debate,
it can state that responsibility for prisons was
Commission does not claim that the list is exhaustive,
transferred to the Justice Ministry, certain political prisoners were pardoned, and the Congress of the
Tunisian Human Rights League passed off without incident. On the other hand, the Commission has been
informed of allegations concerning hunger strikes by political prisoners, the legality of elections to the new
governing board of the Tunisian Human Rights League has been contested, and action has been taken
against Moncef Marzouki and Najib Hosni. These events show the extent to which Tunisia(cid:146)s transition to
democracy and respect for human rights is still fragile.

As to what the European Union can do about the situation, the Commission remains convinced that the
EU should at this stage use the positive partnership instruments to support all those working to improve
human rights in Tunisia. The heads of mission from the Member States and the Commission in Tunis are
following the current court cases closely and stepping up contacts with the Tunisian authorities to
promote the EU(cid:146)s point of view, and thereby to intensify political dialogue. On the financial front, the
Commission is also stepping up its efforts to ensure that the two programmes announced in support of
journalists and non-governmental organisations are adopted quickly.

Lastly, it would be unfair not to mention the crucial role played by Parliament, which has contributed to
raising awareness and intensifying dialogue on these issues by means of parliamentary visits and public
debates; this should ultimately lead to a convergence of positions with our Tunisian partners.

(2001/C 163 E/273)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3981/00

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Import of dog and cat fur

An estimated 2 million dogs and cats are slaughtered and sold annually as part of the international fur
trade. How much (a) dog and (b) cat fur was imported into the Community in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999?

The United States has recently adopted the Dog and Cat Fur Act which prohibits the import, export,
manufacture and sale of dog and cat fur products. The US clearly believes that the Act is consistent with
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the rule of the World Trade Organisation. The Act(cid:146)s
preamble states that the ban is consistent with provisions of international agreements to which the US is
a party that expressly allow for measures designed to protect the health and welfare of animals.

Will the Commission now propose a ban on the import of dog and cat fur into the Community?

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/233

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2001)

At this point in time, the Commission does not have exact figures for imports of dog and cat fur during
1998 and 1999.

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for drawing its attention to the law enacted by the
United States. A detailed analysis of this Act is now underway.

The commercial policy is simply an external projection of the Commission(cid:146)s domestic policies. According
to the information currently available to the Commission, no ban has been introduced on trade in dog and
cat furs in any of the Member States. Therefore, at this time, and in the absence of any internal ban, the
Commission has no plans to propose a ban on the importing of dog and cat fur. Such a measure would be
open to challenge as both discriminatory and an obstacle to the principle of national treatment.

Nevertheless, in the light of the concern expressed in certain quarters over trade (including international
trade) in dog and cat fur, the Commission will pursue the question further, so as to determine whether,
without contravening the principle of subsidiarity, it might not be appropriate to propose action in this
area at the European level. The Commission will report to the Parliament on its progress in this respect.

(2001/C 163 E/274)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4001/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: The Charter of Fundamental Rights (access to documentation)

Does the Commission believe that, even if the Charter of Fundamental Rights were to be incorporated into
the European treaties, Article 42 of the Charter (which states that (cid:145)Any citizen of the Union, and any
natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State has a right of access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents(cid:146)) would have no effect on the availability of
documents, since Article 52(1) allows for limitations (cid:145)on the exercise of the rights and freedoms recognised
by this Charter(cid:146) if they (cid:145)are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the
Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others(cid:146), whilst Article 52(2) states that (cid:145)Rights
recognised by this Charter which are based on the Community Treaties or on the Treaty on European
Union shall be exercised under the conditions and within the limits defined by those treaties(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2001)

Articles 42 and 52(2) of
the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights regarding access to
documents reflect the content of Article 255 (ex Article 191a) of the EC Treaty as amended by the Treaty
of Amsterdam.

This article states that (cid:145)any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its
registered office in a Member State, shall have a right of access to European Parliament, Council and
Commission documents(cid:146).

It also stipulates that general principles and limits on grounds of public interest governing this right will be
determined by the Council and Parliament acting in accordance with the codecision procedure.

On 26 January 2000 the Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation implementing Article 255 (1).
This proposal is currently being examined by the other two institutions.

(1) OJ C 177 E, 27.6.2000.