WRITTEN QUESTION E-1893/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Progress of work on the Pylos estuary and the Evrotas delta.
Date: 2001-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, EU financing, EU programme, Peloponnese, environmental protection, protected area

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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rehabilitation; ensuring access to free, quality basic education; and wherever possible and appropriate,
vocational training for all children; giving greater visibility to child labour through strengthened data
collection, analysis and dissemination; and promoting awareness of children’s rights to protection from
economic exploitation, and the need for priority action against the worst forms of child labour. Financial
support for the fight against child labour has been made available under the European Initiative for
Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). Several projects were funded under the 2000 budget, including
assistance to domestic workers in Togo, child agricultural labourers in Egypt and organisations fighting
child labour in Latin America. Promotion of the rights of the child has been chosen as a priority theme for
funding under the 2001 budget of the EIDHR and the selection of projects is currently being finalised.

The 2000 Cotonou Agreement between the EU and 77 ACP states represents an important step forward in
promoting core labour standards in bilateral agreements and includes a specific provision on trade and
labour standards. The main action of the Commission to fight child labour is its work on poverty
eradication, especially in African Countries.

(2002/C 115 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1893/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Progress of work on the Pylos estuary and the Evrotas delta

As part of the Community’s LIFE-Natura programme, the Commission approved a programme for the
implementation of measures to protect the Natura 2000 areas of the Pylos estuary and the Evrotas delta
for a duration of three years commencing on 1 December 1997.

1. What was the total amount made available from the Community budget for the work? What amount
has been used to date and which part of the work was carried out with that amount?

Is the Commission satisfied with the progress of the work and, if not, who is responsible for the

2.
delays?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The LIFE-Nature project ‘Implementation of management plans for Pylos Lagoon and Evrotas Delta’ started
on 1 April 1997 and ended on 31 December 2000. It was carried out by a partnership of organisations,
under the overall responsibility of Hellenic Ornithological Society, and with the support of the Greek
Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works. In the context of this project, a set of
actions were undertaken aiming at the conservation and restoration of these 2 sites which have been
proposed by Greece for the Natura 2000 network pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

The total approved budget of the project was € 1 513 420, with a Community contribution of 70 %
(€ 1 059 394) to it. According to the financial elements submitted to the Commission, the actions carried
out account for a total amount of € 1 359 477. The difference of € 153 943, as compared to the budget
approved, is mainly due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate of Euro in relation to the Greek Drachmae
between the start and end date of the project, and the non-completion of one of the project actions
(renovation of
façade of an old pumping station at Pylos converted into a scientific
workstation/information centre).

the external

As a whole the project was completed successfully and has a strong demonstration value. In particular, it
has been able to undertake important wetland restoration work, to implement innovative actions, to

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elaborate the legislative framework for the long-term protection of the 2 sites, and to create synergies with
various stakeholders. Some delays which occurred, resulting in a 3-month extension of the project
duration and in the non-completion of the aforementioned work, relate to the lengthy administrative
procedures in getting the necessary permits for certain works in the Pylos area. More information about
the project can be obtained from the relevant Web-site created (Internet address: http://ornithologiki.gr/life/
pylos-evrotas/) or directly from the beneficiary (address: Emm. Benaki 53, GR-10681 Athens, phone-fax:
++30-1-3811271).

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 115 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1929/01

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(29 June 2001)

Subject: Animal traceability in Europe

Given that
there are an estimated 334 million animals in the EU, generating on average 20 000
consignments of inter-Community exchanges per month, creating a potential risk in the spread of disease,
contamination or an opportunity for fraud, does the Commission feel that existing animal health and
welfare surveillance systems are adequate?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

The tracing of animals is of crucial importance for the control of contagious diseases and their eventual
spread through the rapid and convenient determination of the place of origin of an animal or carcass and
its movements throughout the Community.

With a view to ensure the tracing of animals specific Community legislation on the identification and
registration of animals has been laid down:

G Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992 on the identification and registration of

animals (1);

G Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on the
identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding labelling of beef and beef products and
repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (2);

G Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964, on animal health problems affecting intra-Community
trade in bovine animals and swine (3) laying down provisions for setting up databases for recording of
all bovine animals and all movements of bovine animals as well as for recording of all pig holdings
and the movements of pigs.

Furthermore, the tracking of live animals which are transported between Member States is supported by
the obligation of the Member State of origin which issued the health certificate to communicate on the
same day to the central authority of the Member State of destination and to the authority of the place of
destination information on the consignment of animals that is being dispatched. This obligation is laid
down in Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks
applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of
the internal market (4). With a view to facilitating the exchange of this information the Commission has
introduced a computerised system, ANIMO, linking veterinary authorities of Member States.

The Commission has so far considered that the Community legislation on health and welfare surveillance
systems provides adequately for the tracing of animals. However, following the foot and mouth disease
crisis there will be a very thorough examination of all the contributory factors to the outbreak and which
measures might be taken in order to improve the systems.

(1) OJ L 355, 5.12.1992.
(2) OJ L 204, 11.8.2000.
(3) OJ B 121, 29.7.1964.
(4) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.