WRITTEN QUESTION E-1778/01 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Opening of a casino at the Zelezna Ruda railway station.
Date: 2001-06-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Czechia, EU financing, EU programme, Germany, cross-border cooperation, gaming establishment

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/101

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

All research in Europe involving the use of animals is subject to the Council Directive 86/609/EEC of
24 November 1986 (1) on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.
The Member States have responsibility to enforce this.

The Commission has been most vigilant as
implementing the Fifth Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development.

regards animal experiments and animal welfare in

The annex of the Fifth Framework Programme (2), concerning the Quality of Life Programme and the
annex of the specific program on Quality of Life (3) define the rules for funding of research. In particular,
they specify that, animal experiments and tests on animals should be replaced, to the extent possible, with
in vitro or other alternative methods. An obligation is placed on all applicants, including the Biomedical
Research Primate Centre (BPRC) to describe the procedures adopted to respect the principles of the 3Rs
(replacement, reduction and refinement) and to protect the welfare of animals. In addition, research on the
development of alternatives to animal experiments is supported under this programme.

An ethical review has been implemented systematically under the Quality of Life specific programme for
proposals dealing with issues such as the use of non-human primates, generation of transgenic animals,
etc. The ethical review panel includes, among others, representatives from animal welfare groups. The
ethical review ensures that all research involving animals are conducted in accordance with Directive 86/
609/CEE. It takes account of the overall benefit of the research proposed in relation to the possible costs in
terms of animal suffering. Furthermore, participants in research projects must seek the approval of the
relevant national authorising bodies prior to the start of the research activities. The BPRC, which is situated
in the Union but independent of the Union, has engaged itself contractually to fulfil all national legal and
ethical requirements.

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences granted the BPRC a one-off subsidy of NLG 15
millions in October 2000 to improve animal welfare. Several improvements have been made, for instance,
building of outdoor facilities which support the social housing of macaques. Plans for rehousing of the
chimpanzees(cid:146) colony of the BPRC is currently under preparation.

The Commission does not intend to exclude the BPRC from participation in Community funded projects
as long as the relevant authorisations from national authorities have been obtained.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.
(2) Decision No 182/1999/EC of the Parliament and Council of 22 December 1998 concerning the fifth framework
programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities
(1998 to 2002) (OJ L 26, 1.2.1999).

(3) 1999/167/EC: Council Decision of 25 January 1999 adopting a specific programme for research, technological
development and demonstration on quality of life and management of living resources (1998 to 2002) (OJ L 64,
12.3.1999).

(2002/C 40 E/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1778/01

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: Opening of a casino at the Zelezna Ruda railway station

The frontier railway station at Eisenstein is partly on German territory (Bavarian Eisenstein) and partly on
Czech territory (Zelezna Ruda). The German section houses the Bavarian-Bohemian Information Centre For
Nature Reserves And National Parks. The Information Centre was established with the aid of funds from
Interreg III. The Czech section of the station was restored with the aid of a considerable amount of funding
from PHARE-CBC. The association (cid:145)Green Heart of Europe(cid:146) has also set up a centre there. According to our
information, a casino is now to be set up in the Czech section of the station.

C 40 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

2.

3.

Is it true that a casino is to be set up in the Czech section of the station?

If so, is setting up a casino consistent with the provisions of the PHARE-CBC programme and what
form do those provisions take?

If setting up a casino is not consistent with the provisions of the PHARE-CBC programme, what
practical measures must be taken to prevent it?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The project (cid:145)Reconstruction of the railway station building in (cid:157)eleznÆ Ruda Al(cid:158)b(cid:236)t(cid:237)n(cid:146) was included in the
PHARE Cross-border-cooperation (CBC) Programme CZ 9604.

The Commission is not aware that a casino is to be set up in the Czech section of the station. If such a
proposal were to be made, it would raise the case with the Ministry responsible for implementation of the
PHARE CBC Programme CZ 9604, i.e. the Ministry for Regional Development, since the targets established
in the project fiche, according to which the project was financed must be maintained as agreed during the
signature of the Financing Memorandum.

The project fiche specifies the services and amenities to be provided in the re-constructed building. These
include amenities for travellers, i.e. a restaurant, buffet, waiting room and left-luggage room. Any changes
would have to be approved by the Commission. The Commission would not approve the addition of a
casino to services and amenities to be provided.

the Ministry for Regional
According to information provided by the Implementing Agency of
Development, after the completion of the construction and handing over of the building to the beneficiary,
Czech Railways, the beneficiary,
launched a public tender to establish and manage the restaurant. The
company that won the tender is called (cid:145)Ingo Casino(cid:146). This may explain a possible misunderstanding
regarding the use of the re-constructed building. In any case, the beneficiary will be informed of the need
to adhere to the agreed terms, above. If they were not adhered to, the return of the funds provided
through the PHARE programme would be requested.

(2002/C 40 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1779/01

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: Technical assistance for China

On the basis of Council Directives 91/492/EEC (1) and 91/493/EEC (2), Commission Decision 97/20/EC (3)
listing the countries authorised to export bivalve molluscs to the EU was drawn up. The list did not include
China on account of the fact that the reports on the chemical, microbiological and toxicological checks
carried out in the areas concerned were not reliable.

In view of the fact that, under the General Agreement with China, the EU undertook to help that country
overcome its technical problems and thus honour its commitments,
is the Commission planning to
provide technical assistance in order to enable China not only to satisfy EU requirements but also to
honour the commitments it takes on when it joins the WTO?

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 15.
(3) OJ L 6, 10.1.1997, p. 46.