WRITTEN QUESTION P-0753/03 by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Seventy head of cattle shot dead in Castille and Leon.
Date: 2003-03-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Castile-Leon, cattle, competence of the Member States, personal weapon, protection of animals, slaughter of animals, wildlife

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/217

Homelessness is a complex issue, which is about more than just housing. Many homeless people are also
struggling with multiple problems (cid:1) mental and physical health, joblessness (cid:1) which drag them down
into the spiral of poverty. This makes it essential not just to target street people, but take a larger approach
to homelessness. Decent housing and living conditions are the most basic needs of each individual.
Gaining secure access to adequate accommodation is often a pre-condition for exercising many of the
fundamental rights that should be enjoyed by everyone.

The issue is highlighted in the Joint Report on Social Inclusion, based on an analysis of the National Plans,
adopted in December 2001 (1). The report identifies eight core challenges for the future most of which
is
would contribute to addressing homelessness. In particular,
concerned with access to good quality and affordable accommodation as fundamental need and right.
Ensuring that this need is met is still a significant challenge in a number of Member States. In addition,
developing appropriate integrated responses both to prevent and address homelessness is another essential
challenge for some countries. Member States are expected to set out initiatives to address these challenges
in the National Plans they will submit in July 2003.

‘Ensuring good accommodation for all’

Significant steps have been made towards addressing the data gaps that exist in relation to poverty and
social exclusion. However, this is an area where it is very difficult to gather satisfactory data coverage. The
European Community Household Panel (ECHP), the statistical instrument for the collection of comparable
data on income and living conditions, addresses issues of decent housing and living conditions. However, it
cannot adequately meet the need to measure the extent of the phenomenon of homelessness since it is a
household-based survey, thus excluding the homeless by definition. From 2003 onwards the ECHP will be
replaced by the new statistical instrument Union-Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), but
that will continue to provide household-based statistics. In order to fill this gap, Eurostat has set up a
specific expert group.

The objectives of this group are:

(cid:1) To review the current availability of statistics in the 15 Member States and the 13 Candidate Countries
and the countries that are member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), including definitions; sampling methods; question asks; data availibility.

(cid:1) To develop a harmonised methodology for

future data collection,

including a definition of

homelessness; sampling guidelines; statistics to be collected.

(cid:1) To propose a list of suitable indicators to be considered for common agreement by the Social

Protection Committee.

(1) COM(2001) 565 final.

(2003/C 192 E/259)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0753/03

by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Seventy head of cattle shot dead in Castille and Leon

(5 March 2003)

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Castille and Leon Regional Government was unable to round up more
than 250 cattle which had been roaming around on public land for 5 years following the death of their
owner and therefore authorised local hunters to shoot them. Seventy were shot during the first weekend of
this month. After a long period of agony some of them were finished off with pistols, and this slaughter
method is expected to continue.

Can the Commission immediately prevent the Spanish authorities from allowing such barbaric slaughter
methods to be used on its territory in violation of all Community legislation governing the killing of
animals?

C 192 E/218

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The Commission was not previously aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member.

If the animals concerned had in fact become feral after roaming free in a mountainous area for five years,
their killing would not, in the opinion of the Commission, have to comply with the requirements of
Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter
or killing (1).

Even in cases where the Directive applies, shooting resulting in instantaneous death is a permitted method
of killing the species of animals falling within the scope of the Directive.

If the animals had become feral it may have been impossible to round them up for slaughter in another
manner, or for those shooting them to get close enough to ensure instantaneous death on every occasion.

The Commission does not, therefore, believe that this is a matter that requires its intervention with the
Spanish authorities.

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.

(2003/C 192 E/260)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0754/03

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 March 2003)

Subject: Chrysotile asbestos

Further to its answer of 15 March 2002 in response to Written Question E-0200/02 (1) on asbestos, could
the Commission please identify the ‘numerous scientific bodies’ referred to in that answer, specifically
those that have done and published research into the carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos, and
distinguishing between those research publications which treat chrysotile asbestos as a separate material
to blue and brown asbestos and those that treat all asbestos as having similar carcinogenic qualities?

(1) OJ C 160 E, 4.7.2002, p. 197.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

Further to its answer to written question E-0200/02 by Mr Tannock, Mr Arvidsson and Mr Trakatellis, the
Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to the opinions delivered by the Scientific
(SCTEE) of 15 September 1998 (1) and
Committee on Toxicity, Eco-toxicity and the Environment
17 December 2002 (2). These opinions contain references to 82 scientific publications, of which 31 such
publications deal specifically with chrysotile.

On the basis of this scientific evidence, the SCTEE has confirmed that chrysotile is a proven human
carcinogen.

(1) Opinion on ‘Chrysotile asbestos and candidate substitutes’ delivered on 15 September 1998 at the 5th plenary

meeting, Brussels. Available on the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/sct/out17_en.html.

(2) Opinion on the ‘risk to human health from chrysotile asbestos and organic substitutes’ delivered on 17 December
2002 at the 35th plenary meeting, Brussels. This opinion is available on the Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
food/fs/sc/sct/outcome_en.html.