WRITTEN QUESTION E-3738/02 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Redundancies at Euronews.
Date: 2002-12-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, European television, Portugal, dismissal, financial aid, multilingualism, private media

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/69

(2003/C 242 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3727/02

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Enriched cages for egg-laying hens

Is the Commission aware of the 1989 study by Dawkins and Hardie that shows that hens require, on
average, 1 272 square centimetres in which to turn, 893 for wing-stretching and 1 876 for wing-flapping?
The EU Laying Hens Directive (1999/74/EC (1)) as currently formulated provides only for so-called
‘enriched’ cages of 600 square centimetres per hen after the phasing out of conventional battery cages in
2012. Scientific literature shows that these enriched cages will offer no worthwhile welfare benefits for
hens as compared to conventional ones.

It would be a tragic waste of an opportunity to advance animal welfare in Europe if the EU were to allow
farmers to change from battery cages to enriched ones which do not allow hens to perform important
basic behaviours.

Will the Commission therefore propose and support a ban on these enriched cages when the Hens
Directive is reviewed in 2005 (cid:1) something which Germany has already done with effect from 2012?

(1) OJ L 203, 3.8.1999, p. 53.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2003)

When preparing its Report on the welfare of laying hens, the Scientific Veterinary Committee referred to,
among others, the scientific study by Dawkins and Hardy from 1989 mentioned by the Honourable
Member. This report, published on 30 October 1996, served the Commission as a scientific basis for the
elaboration of the proposal to improve the legislation for the protection of laying hens.

Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of
laying hens, invites the Commission to present a report to the Council on the different farming systems for
laying hens by 2005. This report will be based on a scientific opinion covering all systems in use,
including enriched cages. Furthermore, the economic implications of Directive 1999/74/EC will have to be
taken into account based amongst others on a comprehensive study to be financed by the Commission
and to be started in 2003. On this basis the Commission will then evaluate the different options for
improving the current Community legislation, if necessary.

(2003/C 242 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3738/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Redundancies at Euronews

On 12 November 2002 the Portuguese newspaper ‘Público’ reported,
in an article entitled ‘Journalists
threatened with redundancy’, that the sixteen Portuguese professionals responsible for the national version
of the television channel ‘Euronews’ could be made redundant.

C 242 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

Given that Euronews is a pan-European channel which receives EU support:

1.

Is the Commission aware of
continuation of Portuguese-language broadcasting by the channel?

these developments at Euronews? Does any threat exist

to the

2. What measures have been taken or will be taken to ensure the continuation of the Portuguese-

language version of Euronews?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2003)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-3364/02 by Mr Ribeiro e
Castro (1)

(1) See page 54.

(2003/C 242 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3740/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Annual accounts for the financial year 2001

In Official Journal (1), the Commission published the European Communities’ annual accounts for the
financial year 2001 (consolidated statements on budget implementation and balance sheet).

Can the Commission forward a list of all the changes made to the annual accounts as now published in
relation to the version forwarded to Parliament on 30 April 2002?

(1) OJ C 296, 28.11.2002.

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2003)

No changes have been made. The annual accounts are published in the Official Journal on the same day as
the Court of Auditor’s annual report.

(2003/C 242 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3752/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(20 December 2002)

Subject: Palladium

In its next version of Windows, Microsoft wants to incorporate a ‘virtual lock’ called Palladium. Microsoft
claims that this will protect PCs against viruses and filter spam. It may also provide a means of preventing
the illegal copying of software. Palladium is also supposed to provide PCs with a unique identification
code. There is a fear that an identification code of this nature developed by Microsoft will make the
running of competitors’ software impossible.