WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/01 by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Crisis-intervention in sovereign states.
Date: 2001-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common security and defence policy, military intervention, national sovereignty

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?

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/117

Reply

(14 May 2001)

Since the beginning of the process of development of ESDP, the European Council has consistently
confirmed that the Union(cid:146)s actions in the field of crisis management will be decided in conformity with the
principles of the United Charter, the OSCE Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. The European Union
recognises the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council for the maintenance of
international peace and security.

(2001/C 235 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: BSE: meat and bone meal

At the very end of the year 2000 the carcasses of 300 head of cattle were dumped in an open quarry in
the Galician town of Mes(cid:237)a which had been neither waterproofed nor designed to house such waste. This
act followed a similar deposit of more than 50 tonnes of meal banned by the European Union and
produced from Group A animals.

Unbeknown to the local residents, the carcasses and the sacks containing the meal were transported in
vehicles not designed for that purpose. This has provoked great alarm amongst the residents, who do not
know what effect this might have on their health and the health of those who have come into contact with
the waste.

In view of the aforementioned facts, on the basis of the information available to it, will the Commission
say what risks are posed to the health of the people involved in transporting meat and bone meal from
Group A animals and risk material?

Given the uncertainty as to where this meat and bone meal came from and where it first originated, will
the Commission give details of the EU Member States to which meat and bone meal from the United
Kingdom was exported during the period in which the said meal had already been banned but continued
to be produced nonetheless?

Has the Commission introduced rules governing the transportation of meat and bone meal which is to be
disposed of, the features required of the vehicles involved, the protective measures to be taken by those
people assigned to transport such meal, and the means of disposing of it?

Does it believe that the existence of an open deposit of tonnes of meal for which no prior precautions
have been taken poses a health risk to the residents of Mes(cid:237)a? In its view, what measures ought to be taken
to minimise that risk?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2001)

On 26/27 October 2000, the Scientific Steering Committee adopted preliminary notes on the safe
handling, transport and storage of possible bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) (cid:129) meat-and-bone
meal, which may be contaminated with a BSE agent or other pathogens. These notes, which indicate the
principal requirements to minimise the risk associated with storage of this material, are available on
Internet at the following address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc.

Details on direct exports of meat-and-bone meal from the United Kingdom to all Member States and third
countries are widely available and have been reported in the public domain. The Commission will send
these details directly to the Honourable Member.