WRITTEN QUESTION P-3857/02 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Slaughter of baby seal pups on the White Sea, Russia.
Date: 2003-01-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, exchange of information, protection of animal life, seal

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/691

(2004/C 78 E/0737)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3636/02

by Niall Andrews (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2002)

Subject: Humanitarian aid and immigration controls

Given the Commission’s welcome views on the issue of the link between development aid and trade, can
the Commission state its views on a suggestion put forward by the Irish Minister for Justice that
development aid be linked to the recipient’s emigration controls and Ireland’s immigration controls?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

In its recent Communication on ‘integrating migration issues in the Union relations with third countries’,
the Commission has proposed a three-pronged strategy to step up cooperation with third countries in the
area of migration:

(cid:1) first, a balanced overall approach which addresses the root causes of migratory movements. The
Community’s action in this area is substantial and cannot be underestimated. Its external cooperation
and development programmes and policies aimed at promoting human rights, bolstering democracy,
combating poverty, preventing conflicts and improving the economic and social situation in general
tackle the main factors contributing to migratory pressures in third countries and therefore exert an
indirect effect on those pressures;

(cid:1) second, a partnership on migration stemming from a definition of common interests with third
countries. The objective of more effectively managing migration flows requires the Community to
continue integrating migration issues into its political dialogue with third countries and regions. That
dialogue should focus not only on illegal immigration but also on the channels for legal immigration;

(cid:1) third, specific and concrete initiatives to assist third countries in increasing their capacity in the area of
migration management. Since the European Council meeting in Tampere,
the Commission has
endeavoured to integrate specifically the topic of migration into its cooperation programmes with
third countries.

In its communication, the Commission favours a positive approach, based on support and incentives to
partner countries with whom co-operation on migration issues is to be improved. The Commission holds
the view that punitive actions against countries with limited migration management capacities are counter-
productive and should be avoided.

(2004/C 78 E/0738)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3857/02

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(6 January 2003)

Subject: Slaughter of baby seal pups on the White Sea, Russia

My previous written question on this subject (P-2365/02 (1)) asked the Commission to state how many
baby seal pups were clubbed to death on the White Sea in the year 2001. It also asked the Commission to
raise the matter, which appals so many people in my constituency and elsewhere, with the Russian
authorities at the earliest opportunity.

In the reply, the Commissioner acknowledged that the treatment of baby seals in the White Sea has been
an ongoing concern in recent years. Will the Commission now make renewed efforts to ascertain and
publish the number of seal pups that were slaughtered on the White Sea in 2001, and make preparations
for obtaining similar figures in respect of 2002?

C 78 E/692

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Furthermore, will the Commission also undertake to raise the matter in an effective way with the Russian
authorities, if necessary seeking their cooperation in obtaining this elusive information, and state when this
will be done?

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 18.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2003)

The Commission will continue to raise the issue of the treatment of baby seals in the White Sea with the
Russian authorities in the context of its Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, in particular at the Sub-
Committee on Environment.

As regards the number of seal pups killed during recent years the Russian authorities have so far indicated
that they do not have such information, but they believe that numbers should have been decreasing over
the last few years reflecting a downward trend in profitability. Figures from other sources are not
sufficiently up to date to assess the situation.

(2004/C 78 E/0739)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3878/02

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 January 2003)

Subject: Community-wide harmonisation of time limits for the writing-off of tax arrears

Regarding the EU’s goal of tax harmonisation, numerous experts on international taxation in the context of
the different Member States are now considering whether harmonisation should extend to the time limits
for the writing-off of tax arrears.

The variations existing between Member States in the time limits for writing off tax arrears create a degree
of discrimination between citizens and undertakings of different Member States, and for those operating in
more than one country confusion can arise.

Can the Commission state whether its proposals on the time limits for writing off tax arrears include any
consideration of the desirability of harmonising the national rules in this field,
in order to introduce
uniform rules and put an end to the discrimination between Member States?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

The Commission’s policy in direct taxation is set out in its Communication (1) addressed to the Council, the
Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee. In that document it says:

It is clear that there is no need for an across the board harmonisation of Member States’ tax systems.
Provided that they respect Community rules, Member States are free to choose the tax systems that
they consider most appropriate and according to their preferences.

In this context, the Commission has no plans to make a proposal to harmonise the direct tax rules to
which the Honourable Member refers.

(1) OJ C 284, 10.10.2001.