WRITTEN QUESTION E-3583/01 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tacis newsletter.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU publication, information network, official language

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/35

to obtain this recognition and the necessary amendments in the Animal Health Code laying down the
animal health conditions for international trade. The FMD and other Epizootics Commission of the OIE
discussed the use of discriminatory tests at its meeting of 21-25 January 2002 and will forward a proposal
to the General Session in May 2002 which would make emergency vaccination in combination with a
discriminatory test a viable option in disease control.

As of 14 January 2002, compensation for farmers affected by FMD is estimated by Member States at

3.
an amount of more than € 2,8 billion. More than 94 % is for farmers in the United Kingdom.

The eligible amount for compensation by the Community will probably be lower. It will depend on checks
on the implementation of the legislation and determination of the eligible expenditure. The Community
finances 60 % of the eligible amount.

It is difficult to predict how the budget could be linked to the control and the prevention of possible

4.
future outbreaks.

Current practice is that the European contribution for the compensation of farmers is based on real
expenditure in the Member States. The preliminary draft budget (PDB) and the rectifying letter are based
on estimated data linked to real outbreaks. It is impossible to predict when and where an outbreak will
take place.

At the end of last year, the Council adopted a general ban on swill feeding. Whilst such a general ban
5.
of swill feeding eases the need for controls on swill in the Member States, it must be acknowledged that it
cannot exclude illegal swill feeding which has had caused several outbreaks of classical swine fever and
FMD in the past in various Member States.

The Commission is also working on import rules for small quantities of animal products for private use,
which would require additional controls for personal luggage at ports of entry into the Community.

International co-operation in FMD controls, in particular in Turkey and adjacent countries, was the subject
of a tripartite meeting between the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the OIE and the Community
at the FAO Headquarters on 6 and 7 February 2002. The Commission’s draft programme for such co-
operation was welcomed and supported by the international institutions.

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001.
(2) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001.
(3) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.
(4) OJ L 315, 26.11.1985.

(2002/C 229 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3583/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Tacis newsletter

Under the new Commission framework programme, the Tacis newsletter produced by Team Europe,
Carrefours and Infopoints is to appear in English and French only. This places around a quarter of EU
citizens, with German as their mother tongue, at a disadvantage compared with the far smaller number of
English and French-speakers. If it is to be possible to reach a broad section of the public A which is the
aim of Carrefours and Infopoints A documents must be available in their mother tongue.

Why is the Tacis newsletter produced only in English and French?

When will the Commission translate the Tacis newsletter into other languages?

C 229 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2002)

Last year a contract was signed by the Commission and an external firm with a view to providing
permanent assistance to the network of European relays. For this purpose, a help desk for informing the
Team Europe, Carrefours and Infopoints (TECIS) was established. The newsletter is one of many services
that the Commission provides to the network of information relays.

The purpose of the newsletter is to provide swift, up-to-date information for the members of Team Europe
and the people who run the Carrefours and Infopoints. It is not aimed at the general public, rather it is to
ensure that citizens receive an improved service due to the fact that the people providing them with
information have constant support from the help desk, including the newsletter.

To date the newsletter has been produced only in English and French (two issues December 2001 and
January 2002) as the translation into other languages would put a futher burden on the already limited
financial resources and it would also delay considerably the process of informing the network of relays.

This new product is, at the moment, in a pilot phase during which its impact and added value is being
closely monitored. On the basis of comments and suggestions from the users, a decision will be taken
about its final outline. Within this assessment the question of languages will be carefully examined.

(2002/C 229 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3585/01

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Dress rules for female employees in Turkey

On 7 December 2001 female civil servants in Turkey were urged by their union to appear at work
wearing trousers as a way of protesting about a regulation of 1982 which specifically bans female public
sector workers from wearing trousers at the workplace. During this protest which was very widely
supported by female civil servants, problems occurred at Izmir where women wearing trousers were barred
from entering their offices by their superiors.

What steps does the Commission intend to take, as part of the pre-accession procedure, to prevail upon
Turkey to change its antiquated legislation and outlook, to comply with the European ‘acquis’ and to
respect the human rights and democratic freedoms of women?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2002)

The Commission attaches the utmost importance to the respect of the principle of gender equality by
Turkey.

In its Regular Report published on 13 November 2001 (1), the Commission noted that the principle of
gender equality has been formally enshrined in the amended version of Article 41 of the Constitution.

Besides this change in the Constitution, the new Civil Code adopted by the Turkish Parliament in 2001,
has also introduced changes aiming at removing discrimination and strengthening gender equality. The
Commission understands that the Turkish Parliament has also specifically addressed the issue raised by the
Honourable Member in an act published in the Turkish Official Gazette on 3 January 2002.

The Commission will continue to monitor closely the actual
provisions in accordance with the Copenhagen political criteria.

implementation of these newly adopted

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.