WRITTEN QUESTION E-2933/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission inspectors' investigation into BSE in Greece.
Date: 2001-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, animal disease, application of EU law, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, cattle, slaughter of animals, veterinary inspection

C 115 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

Is the Commission aware that

the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the Federal
1.
Environment Agency have not so far been involved in the environmental assessment of the various
options, contrary to the claims of
the
Commission take to ensure that a full report on the ecosystems between Straubing and Vilshofen is
drawn up immediately?

the Bavarian Environment Ministry? What measures will

2.
No environmental impact assessment has been carried out pursuant to Article 6 of the FFH Directive
in respect of the dyke-building in progress. What measures will the Commission take to rectify that
situation immediately?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2001)

1.
In addition to other areas already notified before, the Danube meadows between Straubing and
Vilshofen were notified on 28 August 2001 by the German Federal Government as areas to be protected
in accordance with the Habitat and the Birds Directives (1).

2Both
for the running, and the planned development measures the rules under Article 6, paragraphs 3
and 4 of the Habitat Directive fully apply. The Commission will request all the necessary information from
the Federal Government in order to be able to evaluate the respect of these rules.

(1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,
OJ L 206, 22.7.1992 and Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L
103, 25.4.1979.

(2002/C 115 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2933/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Commission inspectors’ investigation into BSE in Greece

(24 October 2001)

In September 2001, Commission veterinary inspectors carried out investigations in Greece into the
implementation of measures relating to BSE in Greek slaughterhouses. Commission veterinary inspectors
also carried out
investigations in February 2001, when they identified several shortcomings and
infringements.

In the light of the inspectors’ report, will the Commission say:

1. whether sufficient checks are carried out on cattle to detect the disease, and

2. whether the measures to protect cattle from BSE are observed?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2001)

The Commission inspectors of the Food and Veterinary Office carried out a mission in Greece from 17 to
21 September 2001 in order to evaluate the implementation of certain reinforced protection measures
against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

This mission was also undertaken as a follow-up to a previous mission carried out in February 2001
(reference number DG(SANCO)/3234/2001). The report of the mission of February 2001 has been
transmitted to the Parliament and can also be consulted on the Health and Consumer Protection General
Directorate website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/inspections/vi/reports/greece/index_en.html.

16.5.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/197

As regards the mission of September 2001, the report is not available yet. Once it has been completed in
accordance with the procedures established in Commission Decision 98/139/EC of 4 February 1998 laying
down certain detailed rules concerning on-the-spot checks carried out
in the veterinary field by
Commission experts in the Member States (1), it will also be transmitted to the Parliament and published
on the Internet.

Until the report is finished, it is not possible to provide a precise or definitive reply to the questions raised.

Nevertheless, in the light of the preliminary information available after the mission, there seem to be some
indications that certain improvements have been made as regards the implementation of measures related
to the epidemio-surveillance of the disease and the removal and disposal of specified risk materials.

(1) OJ L 38, 12.2.1998.

(2002/C 115 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2945/01

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Data on immigration into Greece and measures concerning the illegal conferral of European

citizenship

In reply to my Oral Question H-705/01 (1) concerning Illegal conferral of Greek citizenship and a large
number of violations of Community law, the Council urged me to ask the Commission for data on
immigration into Greece for 1999 and 2000.

Since the Commission provided details for 1997 and 1998 only in reply to my Written Question
E-1438/01 (2), will it say what the figures are for immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, illegal immigrants,
naturalisations, and the number of withdrawals of passports and identity cards issued in breach of the rules
in 1999 and 2000?

Is a Member State which grants a passport or identity card to an individual who is subsequently shown not
to fulfill the criteria for granting Greek and, simultaneously, European citizenship, under an obligation to
inform the other Member States and provide the relevant details to locate that individual who is illegally
resident in the EU, and does that obligation also apply to Europol?

Are only the judicial authorities in Greece responsible for taking action and imposing penalties or ought
the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties and Community law, and other competent bodies and services
(e.g. Eurojust) take measures in regard to the illegal conferral of European citizenship in the EU, and what
are those measures?

(1) Oral reply of 3.10.2001.
(2) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 154.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2001)

In reply to Written Question E-1438/01 by the Honourable Member and Mr Dimitrakopoulos (1)
Community statistics were provided on persons who applied for asylum and persons who were accorded
refugee status in the period of 1997 D 2000 as well as on immigrant entries for 1997 and 1998. No
migrant stock data has yet been supplied by Greece for the reference period of 1998 and 1999 and data
on illegal immigration and entry is still subject to restrictions on publication.