WRITTEN QUESTION E-0377/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Arbitrary killing of rare birds by licensed and unlicensed hunters.
Date: 2002-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, bird, hunting regulations, protection of animal life

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/189

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2002)

The Commission is well aware of recent reports and developments linking deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to
air travel and takes them very seriously.

At present, the most widely held view in the medical community is that there is probably some link
between DVT and air travel. However, at present it is not possible to measure its strength, that is the risk
of someone who takes a long flight suffering DVT compared to the probability of other people doing so.
The present evidence points to immobility, rather than cramped seating conditions, as being the source of
the problem.

The Commission is convinced that precautions must be taken, the more so as there are many uncertainties
and unknown. Consequently, as a first step, the Member of the Commission responsible for Transport and
Energy has written to the presidents of the Association of European Airlines, the European Regions
Airlines Association and the International Air Carrier Association, urging their members to take
precautionary measures. In her letter, she encouraged airlines to inform passengers, when they make
reservations or order tickets, of the risks, of predisposing factors and of precautionary measures to take
before long flights, and also to advise them, once on board the aircraft, on what to do to lessen the chance
of thrombosis.

A number of airlines have already introduced, on their own initiative, pre-boarding warnings and/or in-
flight advice (leaflets, videos, in-flight magazines showing exercises, recommending what to do and what to
avoid, etc).

In parallel, it is necessary to assess both the risks and the effectiveness of different preventive measures.

The World Health Organisation envisages the organisation of a set of studies covering:

- the link between air travel and DVT and its quantification;

- environmental and behavioural risk factors;

- preventive measures with standardised diagnostic methods.

This research programme should be launched in 2002 and concluded in June 2005, although preliminary
results should be available. The Commission is looking closely at the possibility of supporting these
studies.

As more data on DVT and air travel becomes available, the Commission will decide in due course whether
measures are needed at Community level.

(2002/C 172 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0377/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Subject: Arbitrary killing of rare birds by licensed and unlicensed hunters

Both licensed and unlicensed hunters in Greece, untroubled by conscience, continue to shoot rare
migratory birds and other birds. Despite persistent complaints by Greek environmental organisations,
nothing is done to restrict this barbaric ‘sport’ which costs thousands of innocent animals their lives each
year. Hunting weapons are also responsible for numerous cases in which human beings are seriously
wounded or killed.

What is the Commission’s position on the persistent shooting of rare birds by hunters in Greece? When
does it think a ban could be introduced on this damaging and backward tradition of hunting? Is the
hunting period in Greece shorter or longer than in the other Member States?

C 172 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

As a general rule, the killing of rare birds is prohibited under Community legislation (Council Directive
79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1)) and the national authorities have to take
all necessary measures in order to enforce relevant national provisions. On this basis, the Commission will
draw the attention of the Greek authorities to the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member and
which emphasise the need for effective control mechanisms for these illegal acts.

Hunting is a fully legitimate activity under the Birds Directive. It is however restricted to a certain number
of species listed in Annex II of the Directive and is subject to the specific conditions laid down in its
Article 7. The Member States authorities have in particular to ensure, according to Article 7(4), that the
practice of hunting complies with the principles of wise use and ecologically balanced control of the
species of birds concerned and that the species to which hunting laws apply are not hunted during the
rearing season nor during the various stages of reproduction or, in the case of migratory species, during
their return to their rearing grounds. The Commission does not intend to propose a general ban on
hunting but takes all necessary measures, including legal action, to ensure that the Directive’s requirements
relating to hunting are properly implemented in national legislation.

In accordance with the above-mentioned principles, the hunting season applicable in the different Member
States for the various huntable species depends on a number of factors and, most importantly, on the
biology of the species concerned. As a result, no single fixed opening or closing dates can be envisaged.
A comparison of the hunting season in Greece with that in other Member States would therefore be of
limited value. However, it should be noted that the hunting season in Greece for many migratory species
was recently reduced as a result of legal action by the Commission.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2002/C 172 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0379/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Recognition of the Hellenic Register of Shipping (HRS)

In its answer to my question No E-2339/99 (1), the Commission states that ‘At the time of the inspection,
HRS had only 941 ocean-going vessels over 100 GT in its class and 60 exclusive surveyors. Following a
different calculation method suggested by HRS, the number of exclusive surveyors would be 86, still not
meeting the figure of 100 required by the Directive’ and that ‘On 22 April 1998 HRS was recognised
pursuant to Article 4(3) of the Directive for a period of three years during which HRS can only work on
behalf of the Greek administration.’

Having now been assessed by the relevant European Union committee and pursuant to a Commission
Decision of 13 December 2001, the HRS has been recognised as the organisation responsible for ship
inspection and survey for a three-year period in Greece alone, since it fulfils the solely qualitative criteria of
Directive 94/57/EC (2) on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations.

Can the Commission say why recognition of the HRS is again confined to Greece alone? What are the
results of the assessment of the HRS? Does the Commission consider the results of the quality assessment
to be satisfactory? In which ways does the HRS fall short of the quantitative criteria

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, p. 20.