WRITTEN QUESTION E-2815/02 by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. European Food Safety Authority.
Date: 2002-10-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brussels region, EU Member State, European Food Safety Authority, Spain, seat of institution, transitional period (EU)

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/213

The Commission has no reason to believe that either Foot and Mouth Disease or Classical Swine Fever are
present in Greece at the present time. The Greek authorities are required, under Council Directive 82/894/
EEC of 21 December 1982 on the notification of animal diseases within the Community (2), to notify the
Commission within 24 hours of a primary outbreak of either disease.

Following receipt of the initial Greek response to report DG(SANCO)/8505/2002, the Food and Veterinary
Office reminded the Greek authorities, in a letter dated 10 October 2002, of the need to submit an action
plan indicating the further measures taken to respond to the conclusions and recommendations of the
report. A response from the Greek authorities is currently awaited. The Commission will continue to
monitor the situation in the game and rabbit meat sectors in Greece to confirm that the standards laid
down in Community legislation are being met.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/inspections/vi/reports/greece/vi_rep_gree_8505-2002_en.pdf.
(2) OJ L 378, 31.12.1982.

(2003/C 92 E/273)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2815/02

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: European Food Safety Authority

(7 October 2002)

At the Laeken European Council meeting in December 2001, it was decided that the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) would start its work in Brussels. Brussels would be the EFSA’s temporary seat as it had
proved impossible to reach a political compromise on its permanent seat. Barcelona was one of the
candidates for the seat.

According to an article in the weekly newspaper European Voice (16-22 May 2002), Spain has dropped its
application for Barcelona to be the EFSA seat.

Has the Commission been informed of this?

If so, what reasons did the Spanish authorities give for dropping their application?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2002)

The Commission can confirm that, in line with the decision of the Council summit of Laeken, it has taken
the necessary measures to allow the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to begin operations in Brussels
on a temporary basis.

The Commission has received no communication from the Spanish authorities renouncing the candidature
of Barcelona as a seat for the Authority.

(2003/C 92 E/274)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2831/02

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(9 October 2002)

Subject: International trade and rules on the availability of balance sheets

Member State legislation varies greatly with regard to the publication of company balance sheets. Generally
speaking, public limited companies are required to publish their annual accounts, but small and medium
sized enterprises are often granted exemptions, and it is also possible for simplified accounts to be
published. The situation is the same at international level, where very few countries require the accounts of
companies registered within their borders to be published in full. In general, this requirement only applies
to listed companies.