WRITTEN QUESTION P-0480/02 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Treatment of live cattle exported to the Middle East and North Africa.
Date: 2002-02-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Middle East, North Africa, animal welfare, cattle, export refund, live animal, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

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:

(cid:30) 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;

(cid:30) direct contact with the consultants throughout the studies (questionnaires,

interviews, option of

making direct contributions at any time);

(cid:30) participation in a workshop for presenting and discussing the draft final report (preparing acceptance

of the final report by the Commission);

(cid:30) 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.

4.7.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 provides a set of rules on the protection of animals
during transport (1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 615/98 of 18 March 1998 (2) links the conditions
for granting export refunds to the compliance of such rules. Member States have had clear difficulties in
enforcing the current Community legislation. The Commission shares most of the views expressed by the
Parliament on this issue, and believes that better enforcement is essential to improve the current situation.

A new opinion of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare is expected in March
2002. This report will provide a comprehensive and wide-ranging scientific review of issues related to
look at the current definitions of travelling times and loading
animal transport. In particular,
densities and how they could be improved. The Commission has already undertaken to present further
legislative proposals in the light of the report during the first part of this year.

it will

With regard to export refunds, the Commission believes that the right balance has to be found between
the different aspects of this very complex question. It would not be appropriate to remove export refunds
for live cattle simply to hand over the export of cattle to other exporting countries. The traditional ‘cattle
purchasing’ countries would not change into meat importers. Removing export refunds would be too
harsh a measure for the beef sector as a whole and for the producers that are highly dependent on export.
Nevertheless, the Commission is now examining the possibility of introducing stricter welfare conditions
for the transport of animals, and stricter requirements and controls for the granting of export refunds.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 82, 19.3.1998.

(2002/C 160 E/282)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0553/02

by Cecilia Malmström (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Studded tyres for journeys in the Member States

Harsh winters, primarily in Sweden, Norway and Finland, mean that motorists in those countries have to
use studded tyres on their vehicles in order to drive safely. Under Swedish law, studded tyres may be used
from 1 October to 30 April each year. Winter traction tyres are compulsory for journeys between
1 December and 31 March if there are winter conditions on the roads.

Studded tyres often give rise to complications on journeys abroad. In Germany, through which nearly all
motorists from Scandinavia must travel on their way to another Member State, there is a total ban on
studded tyres. At the same time, studded tyres may be used in other Member States, such as Belgium. As a
large majority of Scandinavian motorists use studded tyres during the winter, the German ban on studded
tyres forces many of them to change tyres, and therefore invest in winter traction tyres, just to be able to
travel through Germany on their way to their final destination.

Despite the rules on winter tyres, Sweden allows foreign vehicles to drive through the country with
ordinary summer tyres. Germany and other Member States, however, do not have such special rules for
foreign vehicles, which would seem to constitute an obstacle to freedom of movement.

Does the Commission intend to take any measures to persuade Germany and other Member States which
have banned studded tyres to introduce special rules for foreign vehicles with studded tyres?