WRITTEN QUESTION P-2435/01 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Veterinary checks at external borders for foot and mouth disease.
Date: 2001-09-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, animal product, application of EU law, foot-and-mouth disease, live animal, surveillance concerning imports, veterinary legislation

C 93 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

The Commission will continue to monitor closely the fulfilment of the political criteria in the further
course of accession negotiations, including the respect of freedom of religion.

(1) COM(1999) 511 final.
(2) COM(2000) 711 final.

(2002/C 93 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/01

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 September 2001)

Subject: Shootings in Algeria

In the light of recent shootings of civilians in Algeria, what steps can the Commission take within the
terms of the EU Algeria Association Agreement to ensure that Algeria gives a higher priority to human
rights and indeed conforms to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2001)

The negotiations on an Association Agreement between Algeria and the EU are still in progress. Clauses
providing that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, must underpin the parties’ domestic and international policies will
form an essential element of the agreement. These provisions will be the subject of a regular political
dialogue to be instituted at various levels,
in the framework of the
Association Council.

including the ministerial

level,

In the meantime, an ad hoc political dialogue is already in progress with Algeria. The next ministerial-level
meeting of this dialogue is scheduled to take place in Brussels in mid-November 2001. This dialogue, in
which the Commission takes part, will enable the EU to discuss the political situation in Algeria and
respect
treatment of
demonstrators in Kabylie and the resurgence of terrorism.

liberties, with particular reference to the violent

for human rights and civil

(2002/C 93 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2435/01

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Subject: Veterinary checks at external borders for foot and mouth disease

It is generally assumed that the illegal import of meat into the United Kingdom from a country outside the
EU was the cause of the recent outbreaks of mouth disease, in the UK and in other EU Member States.

Can the Commission say what measures it has taken together with the Member States to strengthen checks
at external frontiers and what the differences are compared with the situation before the wave of recent
outbreaks?

If the answer to the above question is yes, can the Commission say how much the relevant measures have
cost and who is meeting these costs?

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/131

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 2001)

A very comprehensive set of Community legislation regulates the imports of live animals and animal
products into the Community.

It is the responsibility of the Member States to ensure that this legislation is properly enforced and that
only animals, products and food corresponding to Community standards are imported.

The Commission has the duty to verify the proper implementation of this legislation. In this regard, in
recent years the Commission has been paying particular attention to the functioning of the Community
Border Inspection Posts in the Member States.

Inspections have been carried out regularly by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) in
recent times, and further missions will be carried out, within the framework of Commission Decision
97/778/EC of 22 July 1997 drawing up a list of border inspection posts (BIPs) agreed for veterinary checks
on products and animals from third countries, laying down detailed rules concerning the checks to be
carried out by the experts of the Commission and repealing Decision 96/742/EC (1).

The Parliament is systematically informed on the FVO mission reports and on the corrective actions, which
are required to be carried out by the Member States whenever shortcomings in the implementation of
Community legislation are detected.

The Commission is aware that the current foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak requires a review of the
measures, which are necessary to prevent disease agents such as FMD virus entering the Community and
to better control such diseases. In this framework, the Commission is already carrying out a review of the
needs for a more detailed legislation on the controls at Community borders, together with Member States
experts.

Member States have been reminded about their responsibilities to ensure that controls at Community
borders are properly carried out.

However, at this stage the Commission is not in a position to draw any final conclusion on the
strengthening of the controls at Community borders by the Member States and on their cost.

(1) OJ L 315, 19.11.1997.

(2002/C 93 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2438/01

by Kathalijne Buitenweg (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Subject: Consequences of the opening-up of marriage to same-sex partners in the Netherlands

The law on civil marriage for same-sex partners came into force in the Netherlands on 1 April 2001.

Is the Commission aware that this was not an April fool’s joke and can it give an assurance that, since this
law came into effect, European officials who marry a person of
the same-sex under this law are
automatically entitled to the benefits applying to married staff?

Can the Commission say whether it has already made sure that, in all Member States in which European
Union bodies are established and where European officials may therefore go and work, those who have
married a person of the same sex under Dutch law will be able to obtain the residence permits they
require without any problem?

Will it also make sure that this also applies to same-sex partners from a non-EU country?