WRITTEN QUESTION E-1763/03 by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission. Legislation in the EU, the Member States and the applicant countries concerning horse-keeping.
Date: 2003-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, EU initiative, EU law, animal welfare, equidae, protection of animals, transport of animals

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/385

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 2003)

Protection of Union citizens is enshrined in article 20 of the EC Treaty, and includes the protection of any
Union citizen by diplomatic or consular authorities of any Member State in the territory of a third country
in which the Member State of which he is a national is not represented. Under article 20 of the EC Treaty
this responsibility relates also to Commission missions.

Within the limits of these provisions, the Commission has in the past cooperated closely with the Member
State authorities to resolve situations of crisis or kidnapping of Union citizens. This cooperation has been
carried out both in Brussels as well as through the Commission’s External Service. However, given that
under Article 20 of the EC Treaty consular protection first and foremost remains a responsibility of the
Member States, it is currently not planned to set up any specialised Community facility.

(2004/C 78 E/0407)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1763/03

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Legislation in the EU, the Member States and the applicant countries concerning horse-keeping

In recent years, there have been many examples of cruelty to animals. In some cases, there are no laws to
safeguard animal welfare and, in other cases, the laws are not observed. The outcome in all too many cases
is gross maltreatment. Unfortunately, the same applies to horses and ponies which are maltreated and
often subjected to gross cruelty during rearing, selling and transport.

Will the Commission therefore say what welfare rules apply to horse-keeping in the EU, the Member States
and the applicant countries? Does the Commission know of any studies on the welfare of horses and
ponies in the EU,
the Member States and the applicant countries? What new initiatives does the
Commission intend to take to secure the welfare of horses and ponies?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 (1)
lays down minimum standards for the protection of
animals, including equidae, bred or kept for farming purposes. However, Article 1 of the Directive excludes
animals intended for use in competitions, shows, cultural or sporting events or activities from its scope. In
addition, Council Directive 90/426/EEC of 26 June 1990 (2) details the animal health conditions governing
the movement and import from third countries of equidae. Commercial transport of equidae for distances
of over 50 kilometres is governed by Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 concerning the
protection of animals during transport (3) as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995
amending Directive 90/628/EEC (4).

Member States may also apply additional national legislative measures concerning animal welfare. The
Community ‘acquis’ regarding welfare of equidae will apply from date of accession to the acceding States
as agreed in the Accession Treaty. The Commission is intensively monitoring the transposition of the
Community legislation and its implementation in the Acceding Countries.

In relation to scientific research the European Commission has supported various animal welfare projects
under current and previous Framework Research Programmes. Scientific advice has also been provided by
the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare. The Committee’s recent report on the
Welfare of Animals during Transport considered in detail the transport of equidae and included a detailed
bibliography.

C 78 E/386

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Scientific advice provides a sound basis for the drafting of legislative and policy proposals and the
forthcoming legislative proposal on the protection of animals during transport, including horses, is only
one example of a Commission initiative aimed at safeguarding the welfare of equidae.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.
(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.
(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.
(4) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.

(2004/C 78 E/0408)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1777/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Veria Justice and Home Affairs Council

What progress was made at the Veria Justice and Home Affairs Council on implementing the Green Paper
on minimum procedural safeguards for defendants and suspects in criminal proceedings adopted by the
Commission on 19 February 2003?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2003)

The informal Justice and Home Affairs Ministers’ Meeting in Veria on 28 March 2003, was in part devoted
to a discussion on the Green Paper on procedural safeguards for suspects and defendants in criminal
proceedings throughout the Union (1). This meeting was intended as a first exchange of views, and was
useful insofar as it provided the Commission with an indication of the views of the Member States on this
issue.

At the meeting, the Commission presented the Green Paper and stressed the importance of safeguarding
citizens’ freedoms. During the course of a round table discussion, that ensued, Member States set out their
preliminary thoughts on the procedural safeguards initiative.

The Veria discussion represents an early stage in the course of the Green Paper. A public hearing on the
subject was on 16 June 2003. Over 50 replies have been received to the Green Paper and these will be
taken into account. The Commission, after those wide consultations with experts and interested parties,
intends to present a proposal for a Framework Decision on this subject in October 2003, in line with its
annual work programme for 2003.

(1) COM(2003) 0075 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0409)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1827/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject: Reduced VAT on the rent or purchase of video cassettes and DVDs

Video cassette and DVD purchases have greatly stimulated the dissemination of culture, benefiting in
particular the European film industry, since high-quality reproduction can be obtained from equipment
which is reliable, easy to use and inexpensive.