WRITTEN QUESTION E-2367/01 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Animal transport.
Date: 2001-08-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal disease, animal welfare, application of EU law, disease prevention, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

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4.4.2002

Although he is on a low income and unable to pay this bill, the water company has pursued Mr Cole
through the courts to reclaim its money.

The Water Industry Act of 1999 has changed this situation, and enables water companies to more
accurately tailor their bills to reflect the real water consumption of their customers. However, this
legislation is not retrospective. As a result, Mr Cole(cid:146)s previous iniquitous situation has been (cid:145)recognised(cid:146),
but unfortunately it will not alter the fact that he still is confronted with a bill of £ 700 which the Courts
in England say he is legally obliged to pay.

Would the Council of Ministers consider intervening in national issues to help low-income groups who are
penalised in this way?

Reply

(6 December 2001)

The Council regrets to inform the Honourable Member, that it is not within its powers to interfere directly
in domestic matters such as water pricing or, indeed, local taxation.

The Council would like to recall, however, that it devotes considerable effort at present to the questions of
combating poverty and social exclusion.

The Council(cid:146)s work is being prepared and coordinated, as its first priority, by the Social Protection
Committee, set up by the Council in June 2000, and operating within the framework of the new open
method of coordination, as defined by the Lisbon European Council in March 2000. Subsequent European
Councils have given additional emphasis to these activities.

This work is being pursued intensively and is covering a wide range of
issues, given the very
multidimensional character of poverty and social exclusion. Currently the Committee, together with the
Commission, is preparing a joint Commission/Council report based on the National Action Plans on social
inclusion. It is also working on a set of indicators, to enhance future cooperation and development. The
results of these two activities are to be submitted to the Laeken European Council in December 2001.

Moreover, the Council and the European Parliament have just reached agreement on a draft Decision
establishing a five-year programme (2002-2006) of Community action to encourage cooperation between
Member States in combating social exclusion, with a budget of € 75 million. The objectives of the
Programme are the improvement of the understanding of the phenomena of social exclusion and poverty,
the organising of exchanges of experience on policies followed and the promotion of mutual learning, as
well as the development of the capacity of operators to address social exclusion and poverty effectively.

It has to be stressed that the programme to combat social exclusion complements actions funded by the
European Social Fund and under the (cid:145)Equal(cid:146) initiative to combat poverty.

(2002/C 81 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2367/01

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(6 August 2001)

Subject: Animal transport

In June the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to submit to the Council:
(a) suitable proposals to (i) achieve effective implementation and strict enforcement of existing legislation,
(ii) improve the protection and welfare of animals as well a preventing the occurrence and spread of
infectious animal diseases; and (b) an animal health and welfare report on (i) issues arising from the
transport of live animals, also taking into account the public interest to prevent the spread of infectious

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animal diseases, and (ii) economic consequences for the European Union generally or for regions thereof of
any changes proposed.

What proposals does the Commission intend to submit to the Council in response to the resolution, and
what timetable does the Commission envisage?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 September 2001)

The protection of animals during transport is a priority for the Commission who fully shares the concerns
expressed in the resolution adopted in June 2001 by the Council of Ministers, to which the Honourable
Member refers.

In January 2001 a Commission report (1) on this issue was discussed at the Council of Ministers. On this
occasion the Member States approved and supported the conclusions of the Commission. The Commission
report concludes that Member States have had obvious difficulties in fully applying Community legislation
in this field. The report also suggests that measures to encourage the slaughter of animals closer to the
places where they are raised also merits examination. The Commission believes that stricter rules are
essential for the improvement of the current situation and has already taken several initiatives including
the presentation of two legislative proposals in this domain. The first proposal (2) for a Council Regulation
concerning ventilation systems of road vehicles used for journeys exceeding eight hours, aims to improve
the standards of the vehicles including requirements for a minimum ventilation rate and mandatory
systems for monitoring the temperature inside the lorries. The second proposal (3) aims to obtain a
mandate from the Council to negotiate the participation of the Community in the revised European
Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport.

An additional proposal amending Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection
of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (4) is under preparation
aiming at introducing additional higher standards for animal transport, and at facilitating the adminis-
trative procedures to allow better enforcement and easier persecution of
those responsible for the
infringements. Furthermore following the outcome of a new opinion of the Scientific Committee on
Animal Welfare, expected for the end of 2001, a redefinition of travelling times and loading densities may
be proposed taking into account new scientific evidences.

In the preparation of any proposal introducing new animal welfare standards including the ones related to
the protection during transport, the respect of animal health and public health is a priority for the
Commission, in particular the prevention of the spreading of any animal disease.

(1) COM(2000) 809 final.
(2) COM(2001) 197 final.
(3) SEC(2000) 649 final.
(4) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.

(2002/C 81 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2368/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 August 2001)

Subject: High-speed railway in Tuscany and sites of Community importance

Badia di Moscheta (Alto Mugello), a hilly area famed for its beauty and rich in historical associations in the
vicinity of Florence, is seriously threatened by the building work on the TAV SpA high-speed railway
project and especially the 73 kms of tunnelling currently under construction between Florence and
Bologna. The work is causing a loss of significant volumes of quality water resources, subsidence (1) and