WRITTEN QUESTION E-0790/01 by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Export of live horses.
Date: 2001-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, equidae, health certificate, live animal, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

C 350 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

The Honourable Member will appreciate the reality that implementation must, for practical reasons, be
a process rather than an event and, in 1999 and 2000, the Commission launched two major initiatives for
job rotation of its senior management:

(cid:129) Directly after

taking up office in September 1999 the Commission decided on a series of
appointments of Directors-General resulting in the rotation of 10 DGs (about a third of the total).
An important factor in this decision was the period of time a Director-General had occupied the same
post.

(cid:129) In January 2000 the Director-General for Personnel and Administration launched an initiative which
identified A2 officials who had occupied the same posts for more than five years. These officials were
asked to indicate, in order of preference, three desired alternative posts.

These two initiatives have contributed to developments which mean that, since 1999, new job-holders
have been appointed to more than 40 % (36 A1 and 76 A2) of all A1 and A2 posts:

(cid:129) in 1999, 13 A1 (four new appointments, nine internal transfers) and 26 A2 (11 new appointments,
15 internal transfers) positions were filled by new appointees. In 2000, a further 23 A1 (15 new
appointments, eight internal transfers) and 50 A2 (37 new appointments, 13 internal transfers) jobs
changed hands,

(cid:129) as of April 2001, six A1 and 21 A2 officials four of whom are due to retire in 2001/2002) have been
in their posts for more than seven years. These figures represent 10 % of both the A1 and A2 cohorts
respectively. A list of the officials concerned is transmitted direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

The Honourable Member will appreciate that
21 December 2000 (1) on senior management requires new procedures and systems to be put in place.

the Commission decision of

the implementation of

The Commission intends, meanwhile, to begin another job rotation procedure during 2001. Feedback from
the senior management appraisal system will be incorporated into this ongoing process. The new appraisal
system is scheduled for approval by the College at the end of 2001. Once approved it will be implemented
during 2002, in accordance with the timetable set out in the above-mentioned decision of December
2000.

Factual detail of what has been done and is being done, and of constructive policy that will be
implemented completely contradicts the Honourable Member(cid:146)s negative assumptions about the progress of
reform.

(1) SEC(2000) 2305/5.

(2001/C 350 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0790/01

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: Export of live horses

The export trade in live horses for slaughter for meat has increased within Europe since the escalation of
the BSE crisis.

Is the Commission aware of the appalling conditions in which the horses are transported and the
inhumane treatment they receive prior to death?

Does the Commission support stricter regulations on the live transport of horses and all other animals?

Does the Commission support stricter regulations for the humane treatment of these animals?

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/37

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2001)

At the Agriculture Council meeting of January 2001 the Commission presented a report on the experience
acquired by Member States since the implementation of the Directive on the protection of animals during
transport (1). This document has also been submitted to the Parliament.

The report indicates that given the gravity and frequency of the problems currently arising from the
transport of horses for slaughter from Central and Eastern Europe into some Member States, stricter
measures are needed.

The Commission considers stricter rules essential for the improvement of the current situation and has
already taken initiatives in this direction:

(cid:129) The Commission adopted Decision 2001/298 of 30 March 2001 amending the Annexes to Council
Directives 64/432/EEC, 90/426/EEC, 91/68/EEC and 92/65/EEC and to Commission Decision 94/273/
EC as regards the protection of animals during transport (2), to amend veterinary certificates for intra-
Community trade of livestock including horses in order to refer to the fitness of the animals to be
transported. This measure will enter into force from 1 August 2001.

(cid:129) On 9 April 2001 a proposal for Council Regulation concerning ventilation systems of road vehicles
used for journeys exceeding eight hours (3), including requirements for a minimum ventilation rate and
mandatory systems for the monitoring the temperature inside the lorries has been adopted by the
Commission.

Specific measures for the protection of horses including a provision to unload, rest, water and feed the
animals arriving at the border of the Community will be addressed before the end of the year. The
Commission has requested the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare to report on
animal transport, with particular reference to travelling times and loading densities. On receipt of the
report, expected for the end of 2001, the Commission will propose the appropriate revision of legislation
in this area.

(1) COM(2000) 809 final.
(2) OJ L 102, 12.4.2001.
(3) COM(2001) 197 final.

(2001/C 350 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/01

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) and Fausto Bertinotti (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: Pernod-Ricard and Havana Club Rum

In 1999 the USA took legal proceedings, under the so-called Helms-Burton law, against Pernod-Ricard,
which had begun negotiations with the Cuban Government with a view to becoming joint proprietor of
Havana Club Rum, a Cuban company. This had formerly belonged to U.S. citizens, and had then been
confiscated in its entirety by the Cuban Government. The European Commission subsequently lodged an
appeal against the USA with the World Trade Organisation, on the grounds that it was invalid to claim
that legal persons not having U.S. nationality and operating outside the USA were obliged to comply with
US legislation.

Can the Commission provide information on the progress of
outcome?

these proceedings, and the probable