WRITTEN QUESTION E-0938/02 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The classification of greyhounds.
Date: 2002-04-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EAGGF Guarantee Section, Ireland, United Kingdom, aid system, domestic animal, legal status, livestock farming

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/111

Furthermore, within the framework of the Convention of the Council of Europe on the protection of
animals kept for farming purposes, recommendations for the protection of different animal species have
been developed. All Member States and the Community are contracting parties to this Convention and, as
a consequence,
these recommendations.
Presently a specific Recommendation on farmed fish is under discussion.

the Commission participates closely in the preparation of

Directive 98/58/EC offers the possibility of adopting measures at Community level if this is necessary to
guarantee the uniform application of these Council of Europe recommendations in the Community.

The decision on legislative measures at Community level in this matter should await the adoption of the
Recommendation and first experiences with its application.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.

(2002/C 277 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0938/02

by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 April 2002)

Subject: The classification of greyhounds

Given the growing popularity of greyhound racing and breeding across the EU, can the Commission please
clarify the situation regarding the legal status of greyhounds. Specific issues such as eligibility for rural
development funding hinge on whether these animals are deemed to be agricultural or domestic or belong
in another category.

At present there appears to be variation between Member States (i.e. The UK Government classifies them
as domestic animals and yet no VAT is charged on their food; the Irish as agricultural). Would the
Commission address this grey area.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Although falling within the legal scope of the agricultural articles of the EC Treaty and Council Regulation
(EEC) No 827/68 of 28 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in certain products listed in
Annex II of the EC Treaty (1) (now Annex 1), greyhounds have not in practice been allocated funding from
the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) as agricultural products.

However, for the period 1994 to 1999, under Article 5 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2085/93 of
20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 laying down provisions for implementing
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
(EAGGF) > Guidance Section (2), it was possible to fund measures to achieve diversification, especially
those providing multiple activities or alternative incomes for farmers of either sex, if their financing was
not ensured by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in a Community support framework.
Under an Operational Programme in the period 1994-1999 investment aid was thus available to improve
the housing of greyhounds in Ireland. However, subsequently,
the Irish authorities agreed that no
Community aid would be paid for that purpose under the relevant programme. No Community aid is
available at present for greyhound rearing.

C 277 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

As regards value added tax (VAT), the Commission acknowledges that there are differences between
Member States in the application of tax to supplies of food for dogs kept for racing and breeding. This
may depend upon the fact that, according to the Sixth VAT Directive (3), Member States may apply either a
standard rate or a reduced rate to foodstuffs for animal consumption, or even (under certain specific
circumstances and on a transitional basis) a zero rate. Thus, in the Sixth Directive, the VAT treatment does
not depend upon the greyhounds being classified as agricultural or domestic animals.

The variation between Member States which the Honourable Member refers to, reflects the present degree
of harmonisation of Community law.

(1) OJ L 151, 30.6.1968.
(2) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.
(3) Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States
relating to turnover taxes > Common system of value added tax: uniform basis of assessment, OJ L 145,
13.6.1977.

(2002/C 277 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0944/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 April 2002)

Subject: European Schools

The first European School was set up in 1953, on the initiative of a group of ECSC officials supported by
the Community institutions and the Luxembourg Government. Encouraged by the success of
this
educational experiment, which extended to children of different nationalities and mother tongues, the
governments of the Member States decided in 1957 to establish the first official European School in
Luxembourg, bringing it into being under a protocol.

Since their inception, the number of schools has continued to increase. Three of the existing schools are
now located in Brussels to meet the substantial demand for enrolment, accounted for in the main by
children of officials and other servants of the European institutions.

Given that these officials and other servants are expatriates, who are called upon to perform highly
responsible tasks as efficiently as possible, it is essential for their children’s schooling to be compatible with
the school curricula in their countries of origin. Recently, however, in the middle of the school year, many
parents with children at the three Brussels schools have learnt that, following a decision by the Board of
Governors of the European Schools, their children are apparently to change school from September 2002.
Their original choice of school, determined according to their children’s academic interests and their own
professional obligations, would thus seem to have been completely overturned.

In the light of the foregoing:

1. Does the Commission consider that the European Schools, especially those in Brussels, meet the needs
of officials and other servants of the Union institutions and take account of the children’s rights?

2. What criteria are observed when deciding which of the three Brussels schools a pupil should attend?

Do they include parental choice? If not, why not?

3. How are the European Schools run, specifically:

> How are they financed, and what percentage is paid by each contributor?

> Who serves on the Board of Governors of the European Schools?

> How is decision-making power shared out within the Board?

> What role does the Commission play on the Board? How many votes does it have?