WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/03 by Encarnación Redondo Jiménez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Agronomic research into tobacco growing.
Date: 2003-01-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, agronomic research, research project, tobacco

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/91

of the cultural heritage. Countries that receive assistance from the Solidarity Fund are obliged to submit a
report to the Commission not later than 18 months after the date of disbursement of the grant. This report
shall detail the preventive measures introduced or proposed by the beneficiary State in order to limit
damage and to avoid, to the extent possible, a recurrence of similar disasters.

(1) Rhine: action plan flood protection adopted, implementation ongoing. Elbe: flood protection strategy adopted, draft
action programme currently validated following the 2002 flood disaster, adoption foreseen end-2003. Danube river:
minimisation of impacts of floods as part of the adopted action programme, follow-up evaluation ongoing. Maas
and Scheldt: flood prevention and protection as key part of the recently signed new Conventions.
(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council, of 23.10.2000 (cid:1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.
(3) SEC(2002) 907, COM(2002) 481.
(4) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(5) COM(2003) 23 final.
(6) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (cid:1)

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.

(2003/C 242 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/03

by Encarnación Redondo Jiménez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Agronomic research into tobacco growing

(23 January 2003)

Council Regulation No 546/2002 (1) has now modified the COM in tobacco (Regulation (EC) No 2075/
92 (2)), excluding agronomic research from the actions financed by the Tobacco Fund. The Cunha report
(A5-0065/2002), adopted by Parliament on 14 March 2002, favoured ‘stepping up agronomic research
with a view to promoting the gearing of tobacco production towards varieties and cultivation and drying
methods less harmful for human health, better adapted to market conditions and more environment-
friendly, as well as the development of alternative uses for raw tobacco’.

Given the importance of the research programmes aimed at gearing Community production towards the
varieties and qualities of tobacco that damage human health the least, and also with the objective of
continuing the work done so far and not losing the synergies that have been created, the Commission has
recommended that the sectors affected by the change regarding the Tobacco Fund should seek the support
of research policy, as administered by the Directorate-General for Research.

The recent presentation of
the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Development, on
11-13 November 2002, did not make it possible to identify the heading(s) under which research projects
for tobacco cultivation could be financed.

Can the Commission identify the headings relating to the funding of agronomic research projects for
tobacco under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Development? Can it ensure that, in the
selection procedures for agronomic research projects, those projects that concern tobacco will receive
equitable treatment?

(1) OJ L 84, 28.3.2002, p. 4.
(2) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 70.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2003)

Community Research project
funding is exclusively based on multi-annual Framework Programmes
co-decided by the Parliament and the Council. The 6th Research Framework Programme 2002-2006,
which determines the research priorities for the next four years, is the result of a priority setting by the
Parliament and the Council, on the basis of the Commission proposal

C 242 E/92

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

In the priority setting process, seven thematic priorities were defined. None of these priorities is the
exclusive domain of a certain science sector. Agricultural Sciences are invited to contribute to all thematic
priorities, where they can make a contribution, specifically, priorities five (Food Quality and Safety), six
(Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems) and to Scientific Support to Policies. Inter-
disciplinary research will be essential to fulfil the requirements. Agronomic research on tobacco was not
retained as a specific priority.

The scientific community was invited to further sharpen the priorities in an invitation to submit
expressions of interest. By the deadline in July 2002, more than 10 000 expressions of interest have been
received and have been evaluated with the assistance of eminent scientists from Europe and outside
Europe. This process has helped to set-up the workprogrammes and the subsequent call for proposals,
which was published on the 17 December 2002.

The Commission can reassure the Honourable Member that all received research project proposals, which
fall within the research priorities of the 6th Framework Programme as decided by the Parliament and
Council will receive equitable treatment.

(2003/C 242 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0087/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: Trade in endangered species of animals

The general public in the EU is increasingly interested in rare and exotic protected species of animals.
There is now a real international network of shrewd operators trading in such species. The continuing
existence of an illegal market is undermining the efforts of those traders who comply with the law.

Has the Commission any knowledge of the smuggling of animals into the EU? If so, can it provide figures
for the smuggling of animals into the EU during the past five years?

What proportion of this illegal trade in animals is accounted for by Belgium? Can the Commission provide
figures for the smuggling of animals into or via Belgium during the past five years?

What is the Commission doing to combat the smuggling of animals and is it giving animal traders who
want to find out about their obligations the means to do so? If so, what means and how often?

Is the Commission giving encouragement, imposing requirements and/or providing financial assistance to
Member States to enable them to improve the implementation and enforcement of legislation?

Is the Commission encouraging Member States to cooperate in the implementation and enforcement of
legislation through the exchange of information, knowledge and experience?

What is the Commission doing to help minimise the differences between Member States and harmonise
criminal law provisions, for example?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2003)

Information about seizures and confiscations in the Member States from the years 1997-2000 is contained
in the Biennial Reports 1997/1998 and 1999/2000 on the implementation and enforcement of Council
Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by
regulating trade therein (1).

The Commission cannot provide information on the proportion of illegal trade accounted for by Belgium.
However, there is information on confiscations and seizures in Belgium.