WRITTEN QUESTION E-0872/02 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Protected bird species.
Date: 2002-04-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sweden, application of EU law, bird, hunting regulations, protection of animal life

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/61

In its decision of 6 June 2001, the Swedish Competition Authority concluded that there was no reason to
reach a decision on the substance in view of the fact that Apoteksbolaget had withdrawn its plans to
extend its activities. As a result, the complainant withdrew its complaint with the Commission. The case
lodged with the Commission concerning the complaint referred to by the Honourable Member was
accordingly closed.

(1) The envisaged legal basis for the modernisation of Community competition law is the Commission’s proposal of
27 September 2000 for a Council Regulation on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in
Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty and amending Regulations (EEC) No 1017/68, (EEC) No 2988/74, (EEC) No 4056/
86 and (EEC) No 3975/87 (‘Regulation implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty’), OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.

(2002/C 301 E/066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0872/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 April 2002)

Subject: Protected bird species

The white-cheeked goose is commonly found on the Swedish royal family’s land at Drottningholm outside
Stockholm. Complaints have been made that the bird causes pollution and, in certain cases, also attacks
passers-by.

In 2000, the Stockholm County Administrative Board granted the royal household at Drottningholm
permission to empty some 30 nests of their eggs and to shoot around 20 birds, though the latter was not
carried out as an oil spill in the summer of 2000 decimated the stock.

However, the Swedish ornithological society considered that Sweden is responsible under the wild bird
directive for protecting the stock. The white-cheeked goose reportedly breeds only in Sweden and Finland
within the Union. The ornithologists announced in Aftonbladet on 15 October 2000 that they would draw
the Commission’s attention to the fact that the County Administrative Board had granted authorisation for
protective hunting of white-cheeked geese, black woodpecker, goshawk, buzzard and osprey.

Has the Commission received any report concerning the abovementioned cases and has the matter been
investigated? If an investigation has taken place, what was the outcome?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2002)

The Commission has not received complaints, either from individuals or from organisations, about the
Regional Administration of Stockholm having given permissions for hunting barnacle goose, black
woodpecker, goshawk, buzzard and common gull.

According to Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1) out of
the above mentioned species only the common gull can be hunted regularly in Sweden (Annex II/2). Under
Article 9 of the directive, Member States can grant derogation permitting the taking of other species for
specific reasons such as to control damage to agricultural crops. The Swedish report on derogations
granted in the year 2000 includes those granted by Regional Administration of Stockholm for killing
barnacle goose (77 killed) and goshawk (50 killed); the report does not mention black woodpecker or
buzzard. Acting upon the information supplied by the Honourable Member, the Commission will ask the
Swedish authorities to comment on the issues raised.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.