WRITTEN QUESTION E-2267/01 by Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission. Foot-and-mouth disease — Trading problems with EU applicant countries.
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, accession to the European Union, association agreement (EU), export restriction, foot-and-mouth disease, import restriction, intra-EU trade

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/47

(2002/C 115 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2267/01

by Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease (cid:25) Trading problems with EU applicant countries

in accordance with the Europe Agreements and the Association
Can the Commission confirm that,
Agreements,
it will ensure that any veterinary or plant-protection measures taken by EU applicant
countries with regards to their imports of animal or plant products from EU Member States are restricted
to what is clearly scientifically justified and do not take the form of arbitrary discrimination or disguised
restrictions on trade?

(2002/C 115 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2268/01

by Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease (cid:25) Trading problems with EU applicant countries

Will the Commission indicate what steps it is taking against those EU applicant countries where measures
taken by those countries are in breach of these agreements, either over foot-and-mouth disease or over
similar issues such as BSE?

(2002/C 115 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2269/01

by Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease (cid:25) Trading problems with EU applicant countries

Will the Commission confirm that compliance by EU applicant countries with the obligations under both
the Europe Agreements and the Association Agreements still constitute a basic element of the enhanced
pre-accession strategy?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2266/01, E-2267/01, E-2268/01 and E-2269/01
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2001)

The decisions adopted by the Community to safeguard animal and plant health form an integral part of the
body of Community law. The principle underlying the accession negotiations is that
the applicant
countries will adopt this body of law. As soon as they join the EU, these countries will be bound by
Community legislation, including the requirements to provide safeguards (cid:25) for instance as regards foot-
and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE). All the applicant countries have undertaken
to abide by this principle. The Commission also insists that the applicant countries gradually incorporate
Community provisions into their national law during the pre-accession period.

In the course of the pre-accession period, relations between the Community and the applicant countries
are governed by the association agreements. In this context and in various international forums, the
Commission has raised the subject of the sometimes excessive restrictions imposed by the applicant
countries. The Commission is doing what it can to ensure that such restrictions do not exceed the
precautionary measures adopted by the Community. The Commission confirms that the provisions to be
adopted by the applicant countries must not constitute arbitrary discrimination or a covert restriction on
trade. In this respect, the association agreements are a fundamental component of the pre-accession
strategy. The Commission intends to continue its efforts in this area. Moreover, the Commission has
frequent contact with the veterinary authorities in the applicant countries and regularly provides them
with information on the latest developments in the Member States and on the measures which have been
taken.