WRITTEN QUESTION E-0317/03 by Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco (PSE) to the Council. Cooperation with Brazil.
Date: 2003-02-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brazil, EU financing, EU relations, Mercosur, cooperation policy, development aid, food aid, poverty

C 222 E/182

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

At Community level there is no specific legislation in place for the protection of cows. However, they are
covered by Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for
farming purposes (1). Article 3 of that Directive provides that:
‘Member States shall make provision to
ensure that the owners or keepers take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their
care and ensure that these animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury’. Number 7 of
the Annex to the Directive stipulates that ‘the freedom of movement of an animal, having regard to its
species and in accordance with established experience and scientific knowledge, must not be restricted in
such a way as to cause it unnecessary suffering or injury’ and that ‘where an animal is continuously or
regularly tethered or confined, it must be given the space appropriate to its physiological and ethnological
needs in accordance with established experience and scientific knowledge’. Furthermore, the Directive
requires that ‘animals not kept in buildings shall where necessary and possible be given protection from
adverse weather conditions […]’ (number 12 of the Annex) and that ‘all animals must have access to a
suitable water supply or be able to satisfy their fluid intake needs by other means.’ (number 16 of the
Annex).

Moreover, the Community and its Member States are contracting parties of the Council of Europe’s
Convention for
this Convention a
Recommendation concerning cattle has been adopted.

the Protection of animals kept

farming purposes. Under

for

At the Agriculture Council meeting of January 2001 the Commission presented a report on the experience
acquired by Member States with the application of Directive 91/628/EEC (2) on animal transport. This
document has also been submitted to the Parliament. The report
identifies major shortcomings in
enforcement of the legislation by national authorities. The Commission concludes that improvements both
in the legislation and in its enforcement by Member States are necessary.

Furthermore, the Food and Veterinary Office carries out regularly inspections on the application of the
Community animal welfare legislation. The results of these missions are publicly available on the Internet.
Regrettably these reports continue to indicate in respect of Greece deficiencies in applying and enforcing
Community legislation in this domain.

Greece has not fully complied with its reporting obligations concerning the inspections carried out to
check compliance with the provisions of Directive 98/58 for the 2000-2001 period as provided by
Commission Decision 2000/50/EC of 17 December 1999, concerning the minimum requirements for the
inspection of holdings on which animals are kept for farming purposes (3). The Commission has reminded
Greece of its obligation in this regard and if necessary will consider initiating infringement proceedings in
accordance with Article 226 of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(3) OJ L 19, 25.1.2000, p. 51.

(2003/C 222 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0317/03

by Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco (PSE) to the Council

(10 February 2003)

Subject: Cooperation with Brazil

Bearing in mind that 50 million Brazilians live in poverty and given that President Da Silva is to make
social development the top priority of his term in office with a view to eradicating the hunger which
afflicts a large proportion of the population, do relations with Brazil number among the Council’s
priorities?

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/183

If so, can President Da Silva count on the EU Member States for assistance?

To what extent do the Member States contribute to food aid for Brazil?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

1.
The EU has reaffirmed at several occasions its intention to strengthen its political, economic, trade
and co-operation relations with Brazil both bilaterally and in the bi-regional EU-Mercosur framework.
At present, EC co-operation with Brazil amounts to some EUR 210 million in terms of projects under
implementation. The sector where most financial resources are allocated to ongoing projects is the
environment (EUR 80 million) mainly in the framework of the Pilot Programme for the Protection of
Brazilian Tropical Forests (PPG7). In the social field, the fight against poverty is the key priority and two
significant projects are under way, for a total amount of EUR 12,6 million. Many European NGOs pursue
active development projects in Brazil with the support of EC funding, generally aimed at improving the
living condition of underprivileged communities. In 1999 and 2000 EC funding for NGO activities in
Brazil amounted to EUR 43 million.

2.
Particular reference should also be made to the Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation
(MoU) signed by the European Commission and Brazil on 19 November 2002. The MoU, which foresees
an indicative budget of EUR 64 million, establishes the priorities for bilateral EC-Brazilian co-operation
until the end of 2006. The MoU concentrates on five priority areas: public administration, economic co-
operation, social development, R & D and environment. Three projects adopted in the framework of the
above Memorandum are already being implemented: modernisation of public administration, support to
taxation reform and human rights training for the policy. A fourth project is being prepared with a view
to establishing a network of technology centres.

It is recalled that the MoU expressly foresees the possibility of adjustment when the parties consider it
necessary. The competent EU authorities will, if necessary, carefully examine any request of the Brazilian
authorities to adjust the above mentioned agreed co-operation priorities.

3.
In the framework of EU-Mercosur co-operation, the European Commission adopted the Regional
Indicative Program (RIP) worth of EUR 48 million for the period of 2002-2006. The RIP covers support
for the completion of Mercosur internal market, strengthening of Mercosur institutional building and
sectoral policies and improving possibilities for civil society actors to actively contribute to further
integration and to EU-Mercosur relations.

4.
Concerning food aid to Brazil there seems to be a consensus on the fact that hunger in Brazil is not
due to lack of food or lack of distribution channels, but rather to the low purchasing power of large
groups of the Brazilian population. Therefore, the efforts of international donors have been concentrated
on improving the social and economic conditions of these groups.

(2003/C 222 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0319/03

by Dominique Souchet (NI) to the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Subject: Removal of Cyprus and Malta from the Black List in the Paris Memorandum

The Cypriot and Maltese flags are flags of free registration and are still deemed to be flags of convenience
since they continue to appear on the Black List in the Paris Memorandum.