WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/01 by Christel Fiebiger (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Biogeographical meeting on the Continental region (Natura 2000).
Date: 2001-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, Germany, continental shelf, countryside conservation, international meeting, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life

C 134 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

The Council would furthermore like to remind the Honourable Member of the European Parliament that in
its Conclusions adopted on 20 September 2001, the Council explicitly stated that:

The Council has decided to set up within Europol, for a renewable period of six months, a team of
counter-terrorist specialists for which the Member States are invited to appoint liaison officers from
police and intelligence services specialising in the fight against terrorism, without prejudice to the
legislation by which they are governed.

Its remit will include the following tasks:

( to collect in a timely manner all relevant information and intelligence concerning the current

threat;

( to analyse the collected information and undertake the necessary operational and strategic

analysis;

( to draft a threat assessment document based on information received. This study will in particular
list targets, damage, potential modi operandi and consequences for the security of the Member
States (description of possible situations) and identify those areas in which preventive measures
must be taken (air traffic, official buildings, VIP protection, etc.).

(2002/C 134 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3189/01

by Willi Rothley (PSE) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Languages in the EU

On 27 September 2001 the German weekly ‘Die Zeit’ reported that in notices of vacancy the Commission
was requiring ‘native English’ for jobs in technical support offices, ranging from the Socrates student
programme to the TACIS/PHARE aid programme for Eastern Europe.

Any such discrimination against persons not having English as their mother tongue would be a flagrant
breach of the Treaties.

Is this report true?

If it is, will the Commission put a stop to this practice?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the joint reply it gave to written questions
E-2901/01 and E-2944/01 by Mr Staes (1).

(1) See page 141.

(2002/C 134 E/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/01

by Christel Fiebiger (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Biogeographical meeting on the Continental region (Natura 2000)

On 28 March 2001, at the time when complaint procedure 1998/5119 was dropped, the Commission’s
Environment DG (Directorate D) informed the Verein zum Schutz der Kahlen Schmücke (association for
the protection of the Kahle Schmücke, Thuringia) that the biogeographical meeting on the Continental

6.6.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/211

region would take place in autumn 2001 and that, should the classification of the Kahle Schmücke as an
FFH (fauna-flora-habitat) site prove in any way wanting, the Commission would take steps on its own
initiative.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Has the biogeographical meeting on the Continental region already taken place? (If so, what was the

outcome? If not, why not?)

2. Have there been developments in the Commission’s thinking regarding the FFH classification of the

Kahle Schmücke?

3. By what date will the Kahle Schmücke finally be confirmed as an FFH site?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2002)

1.
The second bio-geographical seminar for the continental region did not yet take place. The delay is
due among other things to the late and unsatisfactory notification of proposed sites of Community interest.
The second bio-geographical seminar for the continental region is now planned for October 2002.

There are for the moment no new aspects concerning the evaluation of the proposed site of

2.
Community importance ‘Kahle Schmücke’ as far as the Commission is aware.

3.
The final confirmation of the sites of Community importance for the continental region as proposed
by the Member States will take place within the framework of the establishment of the list of sites of
Community importance pursuant to Article 4(2) of the Habitat Directive (1). This will be done after
conclusion of the scientific evaluation within the framework of the above-mentioned bio-geographical
seminar.

(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.

(2002/C 134 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3215/01

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(14 November 2001)

Subject: Plucking of live geese

This October the Danish TV channel DR broadcast a report showing down being plucked from live geese
in Poland, for use in duvets and pillows. The procedure is defended on the grounds of the relatively high
quality but unfortunately plucking geese alive constitutes maltreatment which is a breach of Article 23 of
Council of Europe recommendation T-AP(95)5.

These unethical production methods must be stopped immediately. What EU legislation applies in this area
and what measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure animal welfare in future in the case of
geese (and ducks, which are subject to the same production method)? It is also unreasonable for consumers
not to be told of relevant facts about production methods, such as plucking, when they are buying duvets
for example. In some cases they might opt to buy duvets filled with fibre rather than down to ensure that
they are not supporting unethical forms of production. Does the Commission intend to introduce labelling
or certification, so that consumers may make an informed choice and producers be persuaded to lay
greater emphasis on animal welfare?