do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3307/01 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Recommendation on fur farming.
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, fur-bearing animal, livestock farming

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/5

(2002/C 301 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3307/01

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Recommendation on fur farming

A recommendation on fur farming has been available since 22 December 2000 (T-AP(96)19).

1, What action has the Commission taken on that recommendation?

Has the Commission submitted a proposal for legally binding rules on fur farming? If so, which

2.
proposal? If not, when does it envisage doing so?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 (1) provides the main principles for the protection of all
species of animals kept for farming purposes, including fur farming.

As mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Standing Committee of the European Convention for the
Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes (T-AP) adopted a recommendation concerning fur
animals that entered into force in December 1999. The Commission and the Member States participated in
the process of drafting and adoption of these recommendations.

Council Directive 98/58/EC provides a legal base for proposals for Community measures in relation to the
Convention or recommendations made under it, if this is necessary for its uniform application within the
Community.

the Commission adopted on
The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare of
13 December 2001 an opinion on the welfare aspects related to the keeping of fur animals. The opinion is
available on the following internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/outcome_en.html.

The Commission will examine this opinion and will consider whether it is necessary to submit to the
Council an appropriate proposal.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.

(2002/C 301 E/004)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3360/01

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(5 December 2001)

Subject: Fighting corruption

Can the Commission detail what
to fight corruption? Does the
Commission have a comprehensive strategy to fight corruption? If not, can it outline any plans that it has
to initiate a strategy?

is being done at European level

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2002)

1.
In accordance with Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union and further to recommendation
No 6 of the Action Plan of 28 April 1997 to combat organised crime and recommendation No 7 of the
Millennium Strategy of 27 March 2000 on the prevention and control of organised crime, and as reflected
in the Commission’s Scoreboard on the creation of an Area of ‘Freedom, Security and Justice’, it is the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3298/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Withdrawal of EU subsidies on grounds of maltreatment of animals.
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Sweden, aid system, aid to agriculture, animal welfare, application of EU law, protection of animals

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/93

(2002/C 160 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3298/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Withdrawal of EU subsidies on grounds of maltreatment of animals

In Sweden, it has been observed that animal owners who maltreat their animals have nevertheless received
millions in aid from the EU. These subsidies cannot be recalled as the rules for the most common animal
aid do not contain any requirements concerning the treatment of the animals.

Is the Commission considering submitting proposals on criteria for animal care for the payment of
subsidies, or can the Commission propose that the rules on subsidies are linked to national animal welfare
provisions?

(2002/C 160 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3352/01

by Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(27 November 2001)

Subject: Subsidies for stock farming

In Sweden, and presumably in other countries, there have been cases in which stock farmers have applied
for and been granted EU subsidies and subsequently have not treated their animals in accordance with the
applicable laws and regulations. Even people who have been banned from stock farming because of
previous maltreatment of their animals have been granted subsidies.

The EU subsidies which are granted for stock farming are allocated regardless of whether the animals are
maltreated or whether the owner has a permit to have animals or not. As long as the owner still has the
animals, the subsidies continue to be paid.

Is the Commission aware of this problem and, if so, what does it intend to do to resolve it?

Has the Commission investigated what proportion of the subsidies paid each year for stock farming goes
to owners who maltreat their animals?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3298/01 and P-3352/01
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the problem highlighted by the Honourable Members. It should be noted that
the Protocol on the protection and the welfare of animals annexed to the Treaty of Amsterdam (1)
stipulates that in formulating and implementing the Community’s agriculture policy, the Community and
the Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals.

Payment of aid to individual farmers is done by national administration, as it falls within the competence
of Member States. The Commission therefore does not have any practical action on individual cases.

In the case of written question E-3298/01, since the Honourable Member refers to Community subsidies in
general, the Commission cannot answer in detail.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3301/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Standardisation of LPG bottles.
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: butane, harmonisation of standards, preparation for market, safety standard, single market, technical standard

C 115 E/250

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3301/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Standardisation of LPG bottles

One group that actually does move between the various Member States is caravan and camper-van
enthusiasts. Tourism is also a priority sector in the Union as it helps to boost employment.

There are, however, no EU standards which enable caravan and camper-van owners to exchange a full LPG
bottle for an empty one. Each country has different forms of material and connections for LPG bottles,
which makes it difficult for Swedish campers, for example, to tour abroad for lengthy periods.

The problem would seem to be the same for all mobile homes throughout Europe when used for touring.

Has the Commission examined in more detail the need for a standardised EU LPG bottle as a complement
to the various national types in the Member States, which fits all connections and can be changed at petrol
stations and other outlets throughout the internal market?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2002)

The Community law currently in force with regard to the LPG bottles to which the honourable Member
refers covers the fundamental requirements, which concern primarily the safety of users. The Community
law that currently applies does not yet cover the type of connections as such.

Any initiative with regard to the compatibility of connections in Europe would involve prior and thorough
consideration, with a view to assessing the need for Community action, of the problems relating to the
shortcomings in the matter of such connections and their repercussions for the proper operation of the
single market.

(2002/C 115 E/270)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3304/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Salmonella in meat imported into Sweden

Tests carried out by the Swedish National Food Administration (SNFA) on 72 consignments of meat
imported from Member States found that one in eight contained salmonella. For pigmeat the figure was
one in four 5 despite the fact that the meat must be guaranteed free of contamination. Of 14 bacteria
strains analysed in the contaminated meat, 12 proved to be resistant to one or another antibiotic and two
were resistant to six types of antibiotic.

These findings are contained in the SNFA’s report ‘Guarantee Project 2000’. Of the 72 consignments
tested, 29 were beef, 24 pigmeat and 19 poultry. Of the pigmeat, more than one in four consignments
proved to contain salmonella, as did two consignments of poultry. Salmonella was most common in
pigmeat from Germany. Five of the 10 consignments tested were contaminated despite having undergone
checks. The SNFA also examined documents in respect of 532 consignments of meat covered by the
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3303/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Alleged irregularities at the International Programme Office in Stockholm.
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, European Anti-fraud Office, Sweden, accounting, fraud, fraud against the EU

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/149

(2002/C 147 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3303/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: Alleged irregularities at the International Programme Office in Stockholm

In February 2001, a former employee informed the Swedish media that the International Programme
Office in Stockholm had ‘massaged’ the accounts to obtain more money from the EU. The former
employee said that he had been asked to add more costs to a project’s budget than were required despite
the fact that there are strict contractual rules prohibiting the use of earmarked funds for any other
purpose.

The financial controller of the International Programme Office rejected the allegations saying that they
included joint staff costs for finance and administration in all project budgets. He denied that there had
been any massaging of figures. An external auditor was also appointed to examine the in-house accounts.

Is the Commission aware of this matter and has it examined it in detail?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2002)

Commenting on the events referred to by the Honourable Member, the European Anti-fraud Office has
stated that:

7 it was aware that a former employee of the International Program Office for Education (IPOE) in
Stockholm had made allegations of irregularities in press articles and Swedish television programmes
and that an audit had been carried out by a Swedish body (National Audit Bureau);

7 it has started an investigation (end of first quarter of 2000).

The Commission would point out that it has no further details to add: it emphasises that OLAF acts
independently in carrying out investigations and that it is for OLAF, when the time comes, to inform the
institutions under the provisions applicable in the matter (1).

(1) See European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/
1999 of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF), OJ L 136,
31.5.1999.

(2002/C 147 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3310/01

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Subject: The current crisis in the airline and tourism industry of Europe

The recent crisis in the air transport industry, which has been heavily damaged by the attack in New York
on 11 September, the accidents at Milan airport, the two air crashes in the Black Sea and JFK airport and
the bankruptcy of Sabena, has resulted in thousands of air industry employees being laid off and a
worsening financial situation for the tourism industry in Europe.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending Council Directive 93/42/EEC, as amended by Directive 2000/70/EC, as regards medical devices incorporating stable derivatives of human blood or human plasma"
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: European standard, blood transfusion, pharmaceutical legislation, pharmaceutical product, product safety, public health

21.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 48/69

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European
Parliament and the Council amending Council Directive 93/42/EEC, as amended by Directive
2000/70/EC, as regards medical devices incorporating stable derivatives of human blood or
human plasma’

(2002/C 48/16)

On 15 September 2001 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 7 November 2001. The rapporteur was
Mr Ribeiro, who worked without the assistance of a drafting or study group.

At its 386th plenary session (meeting of 28 November), the Committee adopted the following opinion
by 117 votes to one with two abstentions.

1.

Introduction

Directive

2000/70/EC (1)

Directive
1.1.
93/42/EEC (2) on medical devices by extending its scope to
devices incorporating stable derivatives of human blood or
human plasma.

amends

After the approval of the common position by the
1.2.
relevant European Parliament committee — that led to Direc-
tive 2000/70/EC (3) — Member States drew the Commission’s
attention to the fact that there was a mistranscription in the
wording as agreed by the Council.

(1) Directive 2000/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 16 November 2000 amending Council Directive
93/42/EEC as regards medical devices incorporating stable deriva-
tives of human blood or human plasma, OJ L 313, 13.12.2000.
(2) Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical

devices, OJ L 169, 12.7.1993.

(3) Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal
for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on in
vitro diagnostic medical devices, OJ C 18, 22.1.1996.

Brussels, 28 November 2001.

1.3.
The existence of this mistranscription was ascertained
by the experts of all parties involved in the drafting: Council,
Parliament, Commission. It was also accepted that the mistran-
scription might lead to confusion in interpreting the provisions
of the Directive, and that the text should be clarified.

1.4.
It is against this background that the Commission is
proposing this new Directive containing the amendments
required to clarify the wording of Directive 2000/70/EC.

2. General comments

2.1.
The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the
Commission’s proposal clarifying the wording of Directive
2000/70/EC.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Göke FRERICHS
Euro exchange rates
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, euro, exchange rate, national currency

28.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 333/1

I

(Information)

COMMISSION

Euro exchange rates (1)

27 November 2001

(2001/C 333/01)

1 euro

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

7,4404

Danish krone

9,3412

Swedish krona

0,6236

Pound sterling

0,8788

United States dollar

1,4

Canadian dollar

108,99

Japanese yen

1,4641

Swiss franc

7,941

Norwegian krone

96,93

Icelandic kr(cid:243)na (2)

1,683

Australian dollar

2,1148

New Zealand dollar

8,739

South African rand (2)

(1) Source: reference exchange rate published by the ECB.
(2) Source: Commission.
Communication in accordance with Article 12(5)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992, on the information provided by the customs authorities of the Member States concerning the classification of goods in the customs nomenclature
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: customs regulations, customs territory (EU), legal code, tariff nomenclature

28.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 333/9

Communication in accordance with Article 12(5)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of
12 October 1992 (1), on the information provided by the customs authorities of the Member States
concerning the classification of goods in the customs nomenclature

(2001/C 333/04)

Binding tariff information ceases to be valid, in conformity with Article 17 of the Community Customs
Code, from 1 January 2002 if it becomes incompatible with the interpretation of the customs nomen-
clature as a result of the following international tariff measures.

Amendments to the Harmonised System Explanatory Notes and the Competition of Classification Opinions
approved by the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC documents Nos NC0340, Annexes R/1 and S/1, and
NC0430, reports of the 26th and 27th meetings respectively of the HS Committee):

AMENDMENTS TO THE EXPLANATORY NOTES TO BE DONE UNDER AN ARTICLE 8 PROCEDURE OF THE HS
CONVENTION AND CLASSIFICATION OPINIONS EDITED BY THE HS COMMITTEE OF THE WORLD CUSTOMS
ORGANISATION

(26th and 27th HSC sessions in November 2000 and May 2001)

Documents Nos NC0340 and NC0430

Amendments to the Explanatory Notes and the Compendium of Classification Opinions of the Nomenclature annexed
to the HS Convention pursuant to the Recommendation of 25 June 1999 and elaborated by the HSC at its 26th
meeting. Doc. No NC0340

Explanatory Notes
Classification Opinions

Annex S/1
Annex R/1

Classification Opinions edited by the HS Committee at its 27th meeting. Doc. No NC0430
0405.20/2
0405.20/3
1901.20/1
2401.20/1
2403.10/1
6114.20/1
6114.30/1
6212.10/1
6307.90/5
7321.11/1
8462.21/1 or 8462.29/1
8471.80/6
8471.80/7
8471.80/8
8483.10/1
8525.30/1
8702.10/3
8703.10/1

Annex Q/5
Annex Q/5
Annex Q/6
Annex Q/8
Annex Q/9
Annex Q/10
Annex Q/10
Annex Q/10
Annex Q/10
Annex Q/11
Annex Q/12
Annex Q/13
Annex Q/14
Annex Q/14
Annex Q/15
Annex Q/17
Annex Q/18
Annex Q/19

Information regarding the contents of these measures can be obtained from the Directorate-General for
Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission (Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussels)
or can be downloaded from the Internet site of this Directorate-General:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/taxation_customs/index_en.htm

(1) OJ L 302, 19.10.1992, p. 1.
Prior notification of a concentration (Case COMP/M.2655 — Vopak/JTE/Stolt-Nielsen/JV) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2001-11-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: carriage of goods, economic concentration, exchange of information, maritime transport, merger control, tanker

28.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 333/11

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.2655 (cid:151) Vopak/JTE/Stolt-Nielsen/JV)

(2001/C 333/06)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1.
On 20 November 2001 the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant
to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No
1310/97 (2), by which the undertakings Vopak Chemical Tankers BV (Vopak), belonging to the Royal
Vopak Group, John T. Essberger GmbH & Co. (JTE), belonging to the Rantzau Group, and Stolt-Nielsen
Transportation Group BV (Stolt-Nielsen), belonging to the Stolt-Nielsen Group, acquire, within the
meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Regulation,
joint control of a newly created company constituting a
joint venture (JV).

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

(cid:151) Vopak: sea tanker shipping,

(cid:151) Royal Vopak Group: distribution of chemicals, storage terminals for crude oil, vegetable oil, petroleum

products, and chemicals, inland tanker shipping, logistic services, leasing of tank containers,

(cid:151) JTE: sea tanker shipping,

(cid:151) Rantzau Group: liner shipping, charter business for dry cargo, ship management, shipping agencies,

(cid:151) Stolt-Nielsen: transportation, storage and distribution of chemicals, acids, edible oils and other speciality
liquids, logistics services, sea tanker shipping, inland tanker shipping, operation of tank containers,

(cid:151) Stolt-Nielsen Group: besides the activities of Stolt-Nielsen, provision of offshore and underwater engin-
eering, construction, inspection, maintenance and repair services to the offshore oil and gas industry,

(cid:151) JV: short sea chemical tanker shipping.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified concentration could fall within

3.
the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit

4.
proposed operation.

their possible observations on the

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication.
Observations can be sent by fax (No (32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference
COMP/M.2655 (cid:151) Vopak/JTE/Stolt-Nielsen/JV, to:

European Commission,
Directorate-General for Competition,
Directorate B (cid:151) Merger Task Force,
Rue Joseph II/Jozef II-straat 70,
B-1000 Brussels.

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 257, 21.9.1990, p. 13.
(2) OJ L 180, 9.7.1997, p. 1; corrigendum: OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 17.