WRITTEN QUESTION P-2417/01 by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Border checks in the United Kingdom in connection with foot-and-mouth disease.
Date: 2001-09-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, export restriction, foot-and-mouth disease, health control, live animal, meat, milk product

C 93 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Safeguarding the interests of the shipowner and crew is a matter solely for the owner or the flag State.

Through its delegation to Bissau, the Commission has nevertheless closely monitored the events following
the seizure of the ship, and has been in contact with the Italian consular and diplomatic authorities in
Guinea-Bissau.

The Commission is aware that the problems arising from this situation pose severe difficulties to the
owner and crew of the Excalibur, but would stress that no legal basis exists to link between the current
legal proceedings in Guinea-Bissau and the implementation of its fisheries agreement.

(1) OJ L 261, 20.10.1993.

(2002/C 93 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2417/01

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Subject: Border checks in the United Kingdom in connection with foot-and-mouth disease

Despite the continuing crisis involving foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom no disinfection
measures whatsoever are being taken at the country’s borders, ports and international airports, creating a
genuine risk that the disease may be exported to other parts of the EU.

Why is the Commission not taking any steps, possibly in the form of penalties, to force Member States to
implement the requisite measures?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

Council Directive 85/511/EEC of 18 November 1985 introducing Community measures for the control of
Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) (1) establishes provisions for the disinfection of potentially contaminated
materials and vehicles to be applied in the holdings and in the areas where outbreaks of this disease have
occurred.

In relation to the FMD outbreaks in the Community in 2001, additional provisions on disinfection have
been laid down in several Decisions adopted by the Commission in accordance with the opinion of the
Member State experts in the Standing Veterinary Committee, which has met very frequently to examine
the FMD situation.

As regards the United Kingdom, additional provisions on disinfection, including the disinfection of road
vehicles leaving the United Kingdom, are laid down in Commission Decision 2001/356/EC of 4 May 2001
concerning certain protection measures with regard to FMD in the United Kingdom and repealing Decision
2001/172/EC (2), which has been amended several times to take the evolution of the situation into account.

In order to evaluate the action taken by Member States to implement the relevant Community legislation,
the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has,
in the last six months, carried out several
inspections on the operation of FMD controls in all the affected Member States, with particular attention to
the United Kingdom.

During these missions, shortcomings have been detected in the implementation of Community rules
regarding biosecurity measures,
in relation to disease outbreaks, and to the
movement of vehicles carrying livestock and animal products. The Member States concerned have been
required to take appropriate corrective measures, and to report to the Commission upon the actions taken.

including disinfection,

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/129

In view of the complexity of the disease situation in the United Kingdom, the inspections undertaken by
the Commission have concentrated on controls in the areas where the disease outbreaks have occurred,
and on those factors representing a high risk of disease spread. By adopting a risk-based approach, it has
been possible for controls to be targeted in the most effective manner possible, and to obtain a clear
picture of the state of the epidemic and its likely development. The specific issue of disinfection of vehicles
at points of exit from the United Kingdom has not been given priority, as other issues were considered to
represent significantly higher risks of spread of disease.

The minutes of the meetings of the Standing Veterinary Committee, and the FVO’s mission reports, are
transmitted to the Parliament in accordance with the normal procedures.

The Commission will evaluate, at the end of the epidemic and in the light of the corrective measures
undertaken by the Member States, whether it is necessary to take further action in relation to the
shortcomings which have been detected, in accordance with its responsibilities and duties in this regard.

(1) OJ L 315, 26.11.1985.
(2) OJ L 125, 5.5.2001.

(2002/C 93 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2426/01

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 September 2001)

Subject: Equal treatment of religions in Slovakia

The John Calvin theological college in Slovakia does not receive any subsidy from the Slovakian
government, whereas other smaller and larger church institutes are recognised as seminaries and/or
faculties.

The college has been waiting for recognition as a faculty for six years. The report by the Commission
requesting that the college should be recognised as a faculty was published ten months ago. If recognition
is refused, payment of the pastors and ministers will be stopped. Other historical churches are allocated
broadcasting time on public radio and television. This is not the case for the Calvinists. With 90 000
members, the Calvinist church is the fourth largest in the country.

Will the Commission investigate, in the negotiations with Slovakia, whether there is discrimination on the
grounds of practising a particular religion or whether the reason for this discriminatory treatment is rather
to be found in the fact that the Calvinists belong to the Hungarian minority?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The Commission is closely following the respect of freedom of religion in Slovakia in the framework of the
Copenhagen political criteria. In its 1999 Regular Report (1), the Commission came for the first time to the
conclusion that Slovakia fulfils the political criteria. The same conclusion was drawn in the following
Report of 2000 (2).

The Commission can confirm that the Jean Calvin theological college has sought to be accredited, but so
far has not been recognised as a faculty. The Commission can also confirm that the vast majority of
Calvinists in Slovakia belong to the Hungarian minority.

This has, however, according to Commission’s information, neither influenced the public financing of this
church, nor the presence of Calvinists on public television and radio stations. Both financing and providing
broadcasting time for churches are regulated by law. The state is responsible for paying the salaries of
church ministers and partly also for its administration. The Calvinists’ church in Slovakia is financed in the
same manner as the other 14 registered churches in Slovakia.