WRITTEN QUESTION P-0094/01 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Improved construction of vehicles for transporting livestock.
Date: 2001-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, commercial vehicle, drafting of EU law, protection of animals, technical specification, transport of animals, vehicle parts

C 235 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

(cid:129) support aid programmes in Afghanistan which integrate gender concerns and actively attempt to
promote the equitable participation of both men and women, and which promote peace and human
rights;

(cid:129) attach special importance to human rights aspects in the international co-ordination of humanitarian

assistance to Afghanistan.

The Council hopes that the latest sanctions on the basis of UNSCR 1333, which the Council is currently
examining with a view to the adoption, at the earliest possible date, of the corresponding common
position and EC-regulation, will contribute to reduce outside interference and to promote a negotiated
settlement of the Afghan conflict.

(2001/C 235 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0094/01

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(18 January 2001)

Subject: Improved construction of vehicles for transporting livestock

In July 1997, the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on motor vehicles and trailers for the
transport of certain animals. This proposal amended Directive 70/156/EC (1). Parliament delivered its
opinion in July 1998 and proposed several amendments to the vehicle construction provisions, all of
which would have improved animal welfare. The Commission accepted many of those amendments, and
an amended proposal was published in April 1999. A common position is now awaited as the proposal
for a directive was submitted under Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty and is long overdue. Can the Council
give an assurance that it will shortly establish a common position and allow this legislation to progress so
that further improvements may be made to the welfare of farm animals being transported?

(1) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.

Reply

(7 May 2001)

As mentioned in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, the Commission in 1997 submitted a proposal

1.
concerning the construction of vehicles for transporting livestock.

The proposal has been examined on a number of occasions within the Council in an effort to reach
a common position, most recently in March 2000. There remain a number of unresolved questions, in
particular the technical specifications for loading and unloading ramps and the duration of journeys, which
stand in the way of overall agreement being reached.

2.

There are no plans to resume examination of the proposal in the Council for the time being.

(2001/C 235 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/01

by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Crisis-intervention in sovereign states

What is the EU(cid:146)s position on crisis-intervention in sovereign states?

Does such intervention require a request from the state where the intervention is to take place, or is it
possible for the EU to intervene when EU values and/or interests are at stake, irrespective of the will of the
state concerned?