WRITTEN QUESTION E-2274/02 by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Incompetence in the financial and administrative management of the LIFE99/NAT/IT/6254 project in Treviso.
Date: 2002-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, European Commission, Veneto, environmental protection, financial control, humid zone, management, use of aid

C 28 E/214

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2002)

The Commission welcomes the initiative of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations
(FAO) to formulate ‘Good Agricultural Practices’ including animal welfare aspects.

The Commission works actively to create a better understanding of Community concerns on animal
welfare at international level. The international dimension of the animal welfare policy of the Commission
aims at answering legitimate concerns of the European citizen and not at creating new barriers for trade in
animal products.

The FAO initiative, as outlined by the Honourable Member, supports the proactive approach of the
Commission.

The Commission gives full support to technical initiatives to develop harmonised standards on animal
welfare in a multilateral context, such as the recent initiative undertaken by the World Animal Health
Organisation (OIE).

(2003/C 28 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2274/02

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 July 2002)

Subject: Incompetence in the financial and administrative management of the LIFE99/NAT/IT/6254 project

in Treviso

From the correspondence concerning the project LIFE99/NAT/IT/6254 (cid:1) ‘An integrated approach to the
conservation of the Sile wetlands’ between the Commission and the body governing the Sile river regional
nature park, it is clear that the administration of this project has been rather poor.

In the above-mentioned correspondence the Commission states that:

(cid:1) the arrangements concerning the availability of financial resources were somewhat confused;

(cid:1) mistakes had been in terms of the estimated costs;

(cid:1) the beneficiary’s share of the funding had not been allocated and the Commission had never been

informed of this;

(cid:1) the deadlines given had not been respected;

(cid:1) there had been repeated and unjustified delays in sending reports;

(cid:1) the second interim report failed to provide comprehensive or sufficiently clear information on most of

the actions.

Furthermore, the Commission has been forced to retract the statements attributed to its representatives by
the ‘Tribuna di Treviso’ newspaper on 24 March, saying that these did not correspond to the statements
made during the visit.

1.
Does the Commission not think that an urgent technical inspection and audit should be conducted in
order to verify that the Community funds for the LIFE99/NAT/IT/6254 project have been properly used?

Should accounting irregularities come to light, does the Commission not think it should demand

2.
reimbursement of those funds from the competent authorities?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2002)

In reply to the Honourable Member’s written question concerning the above-mentioned LIFE-Nature
project ‘Swatch (cid:1) Integrated approach in the conservation of Sile wetlands’, the Commission had already

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/215

carried out an on site technical inspection on 22 March 2002. Following the visit a series of questions and
a request for a new intermediate report were addressed in writing to the project beneficiary on 28 March
2002. The beneficiary sent a new intermediate report on 15 May 2002, together with a request for
modifications and extension to the project. The Commission refused this request on 11 June 2002, due to
a number of financial and technical issues.

The final technical report and financial statement are due on 31 December 2002. According to the
Standard Administrative Provisions, the rules which govern LIFE projects, inspections can be carried out at
any time by both the Commission and the European Court of Auditors under the Financial Regulation of
21 December 1977 (1). These may be carried out on site and comprise an examination of the work
completed and the accounts and documents relating to the project. Verification of the need to carry out
further inspections will be made on the basis of information provided in the final technical report and
financial statement.

The Commission will only reimburse the eligible costs for work which it is certain has been carried out
according to the agreed project proposal. In the case of inadequate completion of actions, the beneficiary
will be required to reimburse part or all of payments already received from the Commission.

(1)

Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 356,
31.12.1977.

(2003/C 28 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2293/02

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 July 2002)

Subject: Welfare of animals during transport and desirability of a local abattoir in the Western Isles of

Scotland

In the light of Council Directive 95/29/EC (1) amending Directive 91/628/EEC (2) concerning the protection
of animals during transport, and acknowledging the often adverse weather conditions experienced in the
shipping routes between the Western Isles and mainland Scotland, would the Commission agree that the
lack of local abattoir facilities in the Western Isles is in part contributing to longer journey times for
animals which have to be shipped to the mainland for slaughter?

Would the Commission further comment on ways in which the EU, in conjunction with the Scottish
Executive and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, could support the establishment of small local abattoirs and
mobile slaughterhouses in the islands so as to minimise journey times and thereby enhance both animal
welfare and public health?

(1) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.
(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2002)

It is evident that the absence of abattoir facilities in the Western Isles results in longer journeys for animals
which are shipped to the Scottish mainland for slaughter.

In relation to comments requested on the establishment of small local abattoirs and mobile slaughter-
houses, the Commission would like to indicate that under Article 4, and by way of derogation from
Article 3, of Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 (1), on health conditions for the production
and marketing of fresh meat, local slaughterhouses may apply less strict rules, provided inter alia that meat
is placed on the market for marketing in their national territory. Mobile slaughterhouses are allowed under
current Community legislation for slaughter of reindeer but not for slaughter of domestic species. The
Commission would like to stress that the overall respect of the rules on public health remains a corner
stone for ensuring the practicability of any support initiative