WRITTEN QUESTION E-0863/01 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Slaughterhouse inspections.
Date: 2001-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: financing method, infringement procedure (EU), meat processing industry, quasi-fiscal charge, veterinary inspection

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/109

(2001/C 340 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0863/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Slaughterhouse inspections

Will the Commission indicate with respect to each Member State the charge to slaughterhouses for
inspections carried out under the Fresh Meat Directive, noting, for example, whether the charge is a flat
rate for the inspector(cid:146)s time or a charge per animal slaughtered?

Is the Commission considering infringement proceedings against any EU country for failing to levy
charges?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

The Commission does not currently have an overview of the charges to slaughterhouses in each Member
State for inspections carried out under Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health problems
affecting intra-Community trade in fresh meat (1). The Commission(cid:146)s Food and Veterinary Office is
conducting a survey on the subject of the financing of veterinary controls within the Community. This
survey has, however, not yet been completed.

Council Directive 85/73/EEC of 29 January 1985, on the financing of health inspections and controls of
fresh meat and poultry meat (2), as last amended by Council Directive 96/43/EC of 26 June 1996 (3), lays
down rules for these charges.

The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty
against all Member States which have not adopted the national measures necessary to ensure transposition
of the Directive in question.

At the moment, infringement proceedings are still pending in respect of transposition delays in Germany,
Greece and Ireland.

(1) OJ B 121, 29.7.1964.
(2) OJ L 32, 5.2.1985.
(3) OJ L 162, 1.7.1996.

(2001/C 340 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0866/01

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: State aid Ireland (cid:129) Public broadcasting

On 13 April 2000, I raised a question regarding a State aid complaint made against the Irish Government
in March 1999 in respect of the payment of a television licence fee to RTE, the public service broadcaster.
In a letter of reply dated 19 September 2000, the Commissioner responsible indicated that its services
(cid:145)have performed a preliminary assessment of it, concluding that it is, prima facie, grounded and deserves
further in-depth analysis(cid:146). What progress, if any, has been made in respect of this important complaint?
Does the Commission believe it is satisfactory for two years to have elapsed since the complaint was
lodged and no decision to have emerged from the Commission?

Secondly, RTE, the public service broadcaster, has made an application for an increase of 71 % in the
current licence fee. The Minister responsible for broadcasting has indicated that a recommendation on this
application will be brought before the Irish Government (cid:145)soon(cid:146). Is the Commission aware that such an
increase has been applied for? Without pre-judging whether or not the Commission believes the licence fee
or any proposed increase thereto constitutes respectively a justifiable State aid or justifiable altered State
aid, respectively, does it believe it appropriate that any proposal to increase the fee should be notified to