WRITTEN QUESTION P-1384/02 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Flexibility and employment.
Date: 2002-05-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU employment policy, comparative study, job security, labour flexibility, report

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/65

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2002)

The Commission is acutely aware of the theoretical possibility that bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) might be present in the sheep population. For this reason, it has already taken a number of measures
of a precautionary nature to protect public and animal health from any risk from this quarter.

For example:

(cid:1) the feed ban introduced in 1994 applied to all ruminant animals,
The present ban, of course, covers all farmed animals intended for food;

including sheep and goats.

(cid:1) the harvesting of mechanically recovered meat is banned from bones of bovine, ovine and caprine

animals;

(cid:1) removal of specified risk materials (SRM)

from cattle, sheep and goats came into force in

October 2000.

The SRM list for sheep and goats is based on the December 1997 opinion of the Scientific Steering
Committee (SSC). As late as April 2002, the SSC in its opinion on the safe sourcing of small ruminant
materials again stated that there was no new evidence requiring an alteration of this opinion. In the
present scenario, where BSE in sheep remains only a theoretical possibility, the Commission sees no need
to add muscle or any other tissue to this list. This position is further reinforced by the SSC statement of
4 and 5 April 2002, made specifically on the subject of the 19 March 2002 publication by Professor
Stanley Prusiner’s group, that the Committee currently sees ‘no reason to revise the SSC opinions with
regard to the safety of bovine and sheep muscles’. This opinion was specifically requested by the
Commission in order to establish if the research findings of Professor Prusiner warranted any revision of
existing measures.

In line with the Commission’s policy of transparency and openness, the SSC statement on the Prusiner
research paper, along with all of the SSC opinions, are freely available on the Commission web site (1).
The site also carries an extensive question and answer section on BSE in sheep.

Following the publication of the SSC opinion of 4 and 5 April 2002 on a strategy to investigate the
possible presence of BSE in sheep, the Commission is involved in internal discussions on how to proceed.
The opinion recommends a three-step process beginning with widespread active monitoring of the small
ruminant population for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Regulation (EC)
No 999/2001 of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention,
control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (2) already provides for such
monitoring and the levels have been intensified from 1 April 2002. Implementation of the 2nd and 3rd
steps of the process will involve the identification of suitably equipped laboratories and the establishment
of an expert panel for evaluation of the results, among other actions. The Commission intends to come
forward in the coming months with legislation laying down rules for the practical implementation of the
opinion.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/outcome_en.html.
(2) OJ L 147, 31.5.2001.

(2003/C 52 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1384/02

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 May 2002)

Subject: Flexibility and employment

According to the conclusions of the Barcelona Summit, the Member States must revise their employment
policies with a view to ensuring the necessary balance between flexibility and security and creating more
jobs.

C 52 E/66

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

Does the Commission intend to carry out comparative studies on the implementation of part-time and/or
temporary employment policies in the Member States and the contribution of
flexible forms of
employment to combating unemployment? Does it intend to draw up a report on the subject or to take
any other initiatives?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 2002)

The balance between flexibility and security has been at the heart of the European strategy since its launch
in 1997. It is a major aspect of work quality, as was confirmed by the Council on 3 December 2001. The
conclusions of the Barcelona European Council (15 and March 2002) also referred to its importance.

The National Action Plans for Employment submitted by the Member States enable the main political
developments in this field to be monitored, and these are summarised in the Joint Employment Report. In
addition,
the
characteristics of employment, including the use of flexible working arrangements.

the Commission’s annual report on employment

in Europe contains an analysis of

The European social partners are involved in the debate about this crucial combination of flexibility and
security in the context of their social dialogue and their contribution to the employment strategy. This
question is also the subject of work being carried out by the Foundation in Dublin, and was an important
element in the discussions of the high-level group of experts concerning industrial relations in the face of
change.

The Commission therefore does not currently have any plans for additional work or reports concerning
this matter.

(2003/C 52 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1391/02

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(15 May 2002)

Subject: Security and human rights

Following the tragic events of 11 September, serious concerns have arisen over the way in which national
security has become the overarching concern of many governments to the detriment of human rights, with
secondary, parallel systems for the dispensation of justice being created in many cases.

Recently Amnesty International, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and other non-governmental
organisations published an open statement addressed to the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights, asking states to ensure that any measures taken to tackle terrorism complied with their human
rights obligations. The above-mentioned non-governmental organisations expressed their support for Mary
Robinson’s appeal for the creation of a mechanism to monitor the human rights impact of anti-terrorism
measures taken by states, and requested the High Commissioner to produce a report on the effects of such
measures on human rights, which will lead to recommendations for their effective observance.

What is the Commission’s position in relation to the views of the non-governmental organisations and
Mrs Robinson, and does it intend to take steps to support and implement them?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2002)

The Commission fully supports the stance taken by the Union with regard to the need for the fight against
terrorism to be conducted with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Presidency
on behalf of the Union again underlined this point during the Union’s explanation of vote on the