WRITTEN QUESTION P-0458/02 by Jean-Maurice Dehousse (PSE) to the Commission. Article 23 of Directive 97/67/EC on postal services.
Date: 2002-02-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: employment policy, exchange of information, postal service, provision of services, social partners, social situation

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/219

Nevertheless, further to previous replies on that subject, in particular to written question P-2783/01 by
Mr Ford (3), and in order to take into account the concerns of the Honourable Members, the Commission is
currently preparing a proposal for a Council Regulation concerning trade in equipment which may be used
for torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The aim of this Regulation is,
among others, to impose controls on exports of equipment which may be used for such purposes in a
third country which will in principle include electric shock equipment and stun guns.

(1) OJ L 220, 30.8.1993.
(2) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998.
(3) OJ C 81 E, 4.4.2002, p. 209.

(2002/C 160 E/280)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0458/02

by Jean-Maurice Dehousse (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2002)

Subject: Article 23 of Directive 97/67/EC on postal services

Pursuant to Article 23 of Directive 97/67/EC (1) on common rules for the development of the internal
market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, the Commission was
required to submit to Parliament and the Council ‘no later than 31 December 2000’ a report on the
application of the directive, including appropriate information about the development of the social aspects
of this sector and, more particularly, about employment.

No such a report, dealing more specifically with the aspects referred to above, has yet been forwarded to
Parliament, although work is apparently under way. However, it would seem that the Commission has not
granted the request made by the European Social Dialogue Committee (ESDC) in the postal sector to be
actively involved in the work of drafting the report.

Given that Parliament’s resolution on the Commission Communication on services of general interest in
‘considers it vital to devise pluralist assessment procedures
Europe, adopted on 13 November 2001,
involving all parties’ concerning ‘the way in which the tasks of general
interest service provision are
fulfilled’ and ‘considers it necessary in view of the successes and problems to date in liberalising important
service areas […] to perform a better assessment of the impact on social and regional cohesion before
deciding whether it would be appropriate to proceed further with the liberalisation which has been
introduced in the [area of] postal services’, I should like to know why the Commission is refusing to
consult and involve the two sides of industry in the postal sector at European level and how, without their
the work in question and the relevance and
it can guarantee the transparency of
involvement,
objectiveness of the information gathered or submitted.

(1) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2002)

As mentioned by the Honourable Member, work is in fact under way to prepare the report on the
application of Directive 97/67/EC (1) in accordance with the provisions of Article 23 of the Directive. This
report is part of the Commission’s work programme for 2002.

As part of the preparation of this report, three studies were carried out by external consultants.

C 160 E/220

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

For each study, the Commission ensured that the two sides of industry (and all stakeholders in the sector)
at European level were consulted and involved by means of the following arrangements:

A participation in a workshop at the start of the studies, enabling a discussion of the terms of reference

and the methodology proposed by the consultants;

A direct contact with the consultants throughout the studies (questionnaires,

interviews, option of

making direct contributions at any time);

A participation in a workshop for presenting and discussing the draft final report (preparing acceptance

of the final report by the Commission);

A information throughout the process of plenary sessions of the European Social Dialogue Committee in

the postal sector and presentation of the results to that Committee.

Lastly, in addition to being made available on the Internet, the study reports have been sent to the two
sides of industry at European level and to the other stakeholders.

Moreover, another study is currently under way concerning ‘employment trends in the European postal
sector’, for which the above-mentioned procedure has also been applied. However, in view of the special
importance of this study for the two sides of industry and the sector in general, this measure has been
reinforced by the scheduling of a further workshop to discuss interim results at the end of the first phase
of information collection.

(1) Directive 97/67/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the
development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service,
OJ L 15, 21.1.1998.

(2002/C 160 E/281)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0480/02

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(14 February 2002)

Subject: Treatment of live cattle exported to the Middle East and North Africa

The EU exports approximately 300 000 live cattle to the Middle East and North Africa on an annual basis.
The main exporters are Germany, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. Each year between EUR 60 and
EUR 100 million are paid out in subsidies (’export funds’) to traders who export live cattle from the EU to
the Middle East and North Africa.

In November 2001, the European Parliament voted to end long journeys for animals going for slaughter
and further fattening. The Parliament also voted to remove the subsidies that support live cattle shipments
to the Middle East.

Will the European Commission now give an assurance that it intends to change the EU animal transport
law so that it takes into account Parliament’s views and brings to an end the live animal export trade?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

The Commission is aware of complaints from animal welfare organisations concerning the mistreatment of
animals during transport and in particular after arrival in third countries.