WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Cattle transport — CATRA findings.
Date: 2003-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: agricultural building, animal welfare, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

C 78 E/90

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2196/03

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Civil protection

What civil protection resources and capabilities are available to the European Commission and how is the
Commission organised to handle these matters? What is the Commission’s budget for civil protection
activities for each year in the period 2000-2005? What steps are taken to ensure that the Commission
does not duplicate the activities of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre at NATO HQ?
In the event of a crisis, what mechanisms exist to ensure that the Commission’s call for and mobilisation of
capabilities, and execution of civil protection procedures, are fully coordinated with those of NATO?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

Following the Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community
mechanism to facilitate reinforced co-operation in civil protection assistance interventions (1),
the
immediately
Commission has established a Response Centre which is accessible and able to react
24 hours a day. The Centre can be activated in case of a natural or man-made emergency, occurring inside
or outside the Union. If it receives a request for assistance, it takes up immediate contact with the 24-hour
contact points of the countries participating in the mechanism (Member States, European Economic Area
(EEA) and Accession Countries). Then, the Centre puts together the means available, offered on a voluntary
basis by the national competent authorities and facilitates their deployment.

The budget for Civil Protection activities for the year 2003 is EUR 6,5 million. This budget covers, on a co-
financing basis, different types of activities: training, exercises and exchange of experts for civil protection
personnel, workshops and projects aiming at better information of the public, awareness raising projects.

Out of this budget EUR 2 million have been earmarked by the Parliament for floods and earthquake
forecasting projects.

The Commission has developed regular contacts with all relevant bodies and international organisations
concerned with civil protection, including NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre
(EADRCC). It will be up to those Member States who have offered civil protection capabilities to one or
more co-ordination centres to decide how best their resources should be deployed in any given emergency
situation. Council Decision 1999/847/CE establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil
protection (2) is also worth mentioning in this context.

(1) OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.
(2) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.

(2004/C 78 E/0089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Cattle transport (cid:1) CATRA findings

The Commission announces in its communication IP/03/854 that the CATRA research project makes
recommendations on the transportation of cattle (over long distances).

According to the findings of
this study, animals experience the greatest stress during loading and
unloading. Also, cattle transport vehicles need better, more appropriate design. The study also calls for
improvements in the design of lairage facilities.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/91

What concrete measures will the Commission be taking in these areas in order not only to improve the
quality of the meat (cid:1) as it states in its communication (cid:1), but also to ensure that transportation of animals
takes place under the best possible conditions for them?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

A legislative proposal on the protection of animals during transport was adopted by the Commission on
16 July 2003. Scientific advice provides a sound basis for the formulation of policy proposals by the
Commission and the recent findings of the Community-funded cattle transport (CATRA) research project
provide valuable information in this regard. Additional inputs concerning this issue include an opinion
from the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare and the outcome of a detailed
stakeholder and public consultation.

The legislative proposal takes these various elements into account in order to improve the protection of
animals during transport. The Commission’s proposal covers inter alia animal
loading and unloading,
handling facilities, vehicle standards and the training of personnel. The Commission believes that a step-by-
step approach represents the best means of securing real improvements in animal welfare over the short to
medium term. Consequently,
the high standards
recommended by scientists are implemented by the creation of proper legislative instruments, facilitating
improved control and enforcement by the national competent authorities.

the Commission proposal aims

to ensure that

(2004/C 78 E/0090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2206/03

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Action to confine marketing of specified products to the Czech Republic

Appendix A to Annex V to the Accession Act lists establishments in the Czech Republic that are permitted
to delay until 31 December 2006 their compliance, in the area of veterinary legislation, with the structural
requirements of the directives applicable respectively to fresh meat, fresh poultry meat, meat products, egg
products and milk. Products originating from those establishments may, during that period, only be placed
on the domestic market or used for further processing in domestic establishments.

I therefore ask the Commission what action can be taken, short of border checks on products, to ensure
that the above products originating from the Czech establishments concerned have in fact been placed or
processed only on the domestic market?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 August 2003)

The provisions of Annex V to the Accession Act provide specific rules guaranteeing that products from
establishments granted a transitional period do not circulate in the internal market. In addition, Annex V
entitles the Commission to adopt detailed implementing rules for the production, marketing (including
special marking) and control of products originating from establishments granted a transitional period.

The Commission has initiated discussions on supplementary control measures to be applied to the
production and marketing of products in transition with existing and new Member States.