WRITTEN QUESTION E-2394/03 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission. Status of the Commission's White Paper A New Impetus for European Youth.
Date: 2003-07-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU action, dissemination of EU information, document, youth policy

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/261

stipulated by the Bavarian region of Germany? Is it legal for them to impose age limits in the first place? It
is currently the only region in Germany to allow age limits in hostels.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 August 2003)

The White Paper on youth (1), ‘A New Impetus for European Youth’ aims at suggesting a new framework
for cooperation in youth policy. This new framework, which includes the open method of cooperation,
was endorsed by the Council in its Resolution of 27 June 2002 (2) and applies to the four thematic political
priorities: participation, information, a greater understanding of youth and voluntary activities.

The White Paper is therefore a first step towards an enhanced cooperation in the youth field and can only
deal with a certain number of thematic priorities identified by young people, thereby fully respecting the
Member States’ subsidiarity in this field. The White Paper aims at giving major political orientations on
youth in Europe and does thus not tackle tax questions.

(1) COM(2001) 681 final.
(2) Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, Meeting within the
Council of 27 June 2002 regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field (OJ C 168,
13.7.2002, p. 2).

(2004/C 33 E/271)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2394/03

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Status of the Commission’s White Paper ‘A New Impetus for European Youth’

What is the current status of the Commission’s White Paper ‘A New Impetus for European Youth’ (1)?

(1) COM/2001/0681 final.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(29 August 2003)

White Papers published by the Commission are documents containing proposals for Community action in
a specific field. If a White Paper is viewed positively by the Council it can lead to the launching of Union
action in the field concerned.

The White Paper ‘A new impetus for European youth’, adopted by the Commission on 21 November
2001, proposes in particular the implementation of cooperation in the youth field, covering four thematic
information, voluntary activity and greater understanding and knowledge of
priorities:
youth’.

‘participation,

The Council took a positive view of the White Paper and adopted the Resolution of 27 June 2002 (1)
regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field. This Resolution implements the
proposals set out in the Commission’s White Paper.

On participation and information, the Commission presented a synthesis report (2) and draft common
objectives (3) on the basis of suggestions from the Member States. The Council discussed these Commission
documents in May 2003.

C 33 E/262

Official Journal of the European Union

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6.2.2004

As far as the priorities ‘a greater understanding of youth’ and ‘voluntary activities’ are concerned, the
Commission will proceed accordingly. Currently these two priorities are tackled by the Member States.

(1) OJ C 168, 13.7.2002.
(2) Commission staff working paper: Analysis of Member States’ replies to the Commission questionnaires on youth

participation and information (SEC(2003) 465.

(3) Communication from the Commission to the Council: Follow-up to the White Paper on a New Impetus for
European Youth. Proposed common objectives for the participation and information of young people, in response
to the Council Resolution of 27 June 2002 regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field,
COM(2003) 184 final.

(2004/C 33 E/272)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2404/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Zinc bacitracin used by rabbit breeders to combat Epizootic Rabbit Enterocolitis: prohibited in

Belgium under EU law but now in use again in the Netherlands and in France

Council Regulation (EC) No 2821/98 (1) of 17 December 1998 amending, as regards withdrawal of the
authorisation of certain antibiotics, Directive 70/524/EEC (2) concerning additives in feedingstuffs prohibits
the use of zinc bacitracin as an additive in feedingstuffs. Zinc bacitracin is used, inter alia, by rabbit
breeders to combat Epizootic Rabbit Enterocolitis (ERE). In accordance with the Regulation, the Belgian
Government has banned the use of zinc bacitracin. The problem is that Allpharma, the company which
markets the product, was late in initiating the application procedure for the registration of zinc bacitracin
as a medicinal product. As a result, there is currently no product available to rabbit breeders to combat
ERE. In the interim, the Netherlands and France have introduced emergency legislation to permit the use of
zinc bacitracin by rabbit breeders. That has led to unfair competition between, on the one hand, Dutch
and French rabbit breeders and, on the other, Belgian rabbit breeders.

the Netherlands and France have renewed
inter alia,
Is the Commission aware of
authorisation to use zinc bacitracin, although such use is actually prohibited under European law, and
that it results in a distortion of the market in rabbit breeding?

the fact

that,

Does the Commission acknowledge that, given that zinc bacitracin is the only currently known means of
combating ERE, this results in a distortion of the market?

If so, is the Commission intending to seek a solution to this problem?

(1) OJ L 351, 29.12.1998, p. 4.
(2) OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(1 September 2003)

Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feeding-stuffs modified by
Council Regulation (EC) 2821/98 of 17 December 1998 prohibits the use of zinc bacitracin as feed
additive for the purpose of growth promotion, not as active substance included in veterinary medicinal
products for the treatment/prevention of specific diseases.

The authorisation of veterinary medicinal products is governed by Directive 2001/82/EC of the Parliament
and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal
products (1). Article 6 of this Directive states that as a prerequisite for such an authorisation, the active