WRITTEN QUESTION E-2471/03 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission. Italy and compliance with animal welfare regulation.
Date: 2003-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, animal welfare, application of EU law, domestic animal, protection of animals

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/411

The Commission has no evidence of Community funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) being
4.
misused for anything other than its agreed purpose. Should such evidence come to light, immediate action
would be taken.

Commission support to the Palestinians is aimed at alleviating the economic and humanitarian crisis
5.
whilst at the same time building the institutions of a future independent, democratic and viable Palestinian
state living side by side in peace and security with Israel, as laid out most recently in the Roadmap.

Deepening reform, helping the population to face the economic crisis and promoting the principles of
good governance and of mutual tolerance and understanding is the best strategy to establish a peaceful
coexistence between Israel and the Palestinian people. These principles have long underpinned the
Commission programme in support of the Palestinians. The Commission has put its weight behind reform
by designing tailor-made institution-building programmes for the Palestinian Authority (e.g. in the area of
judiciary) and by attaching strict reform conditions to its assistance. This has already yielded positive
results most notably in the area of public finances and the adoption of key legal acts.

The new PA Government under Prime Minister Abbas has committed itself to a wide-ranging reform
including concrete measures to eradicate incitement, which was outlined during the Joint
programme,
Committee Meeting of the EC-PA Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation of 26 June
2003. The Roadmap obligations are being monitored closely by the international community.

The Commission is supportive of the efforts of a number of Member States to develop a modern
Palestinian education system based on tolerance and mutual understanding and regularly facilitates, in this
respect, contacts with the PA and dialogue with all relevant parties.

Finally, the Commission should like to inform the Honourable Member that the importance of Community
donor support in both keeping the Palestinian economy alive and in supporting the implementation of key
democratic reform measures has been widely recognised by the international community, notably at the
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting of international donors (including the Union, United States, Norway,
and the World Bank) in London on 18/19 February 2003.

(2004/C 88 E/0417)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2471/03

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Italy and compliance with animal welfare regulation

(24 July 2003)

The Independent recently reported that police in Italy say anglers are using live kittens as bait, while
fishing for the gigantic sheat-fish.

Giuseppe Lagana, a police officer in Mantua in the Po valley, says the first case of kittens being used in the
Italy’s
Po river was detected in May. But Mr Lagana, who doubles as a commander with Ampana,
voluntary nature protection force, said the incident was not isolated.

Could the Commission confirm whether Italy is in full compliance with general EU animal welfare
legislation?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2003)

The Commission is on record as deploring animal cruelty in all its forms and would be horrified if live
kittens were used as fishing bait as alleged by the Honourable Member.

C 88 E/412

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

However, Community law in relation to animal welfare is limited in scope and covers essentially only the
rearing of animals on farms and the slaughter or killing of those animals, transport of all species and the
treatment of laboratory animals.

Prevention of cruelty to domestic cats for example, falls within the exclusive competence of the Member
States and it is therefore, for the Italian authorities to investigate the allegations referred to by the
Honourable Member.

(2004/C 88 E/0418)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2476/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 July 2003)

Subject: Reduced VAT for hotels, restaurants and cafés in the European Union

At present, hotel and catering services are included in Annex H to the Sixth VAT Directive.

On the basis of that Directive, 12 of the 15 Member States have decided to apply a VAT rate below 15 %
for this category of services, but it is clear that the disparity in the rates applicable in the various countries
is leading to unequal treatment which may distort competition in the industry, which is highly sensitive to
any kind of tax-related question.

Will the Commission take action, on the basis of its power of initiative, with a view to suggesting to the
Member States that they take account of the accumulation of circumstances which affect the hotel sector
so that the VAT rate applicable to the sector is as low as possible?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2003)

In its 2000 communication the Commission set out a strategy to improve the operation of the value-added
tax (VAT) system in the context of the internal market (1).

No changes in the level of VAT rates are envisaged during the implementation of this strategy. Mindful of
the principle of subsidiarity, the Commission does not wish to interfere with the Member States’ fiscal
competence any more than is necessary for the smooth operation of the internal market, especially as
regards the VAT rates the Member States wish to set.

However, it is the role of the Commission to propose to the Council any rules necessary for the smoother
operation of the internal market. The Commission has therefore chosen to focus on the disparities in
present system of rates with a view to making an important step in this direction. More equal treatment
must be ensured in all the Member States, including the new members, and a stop put to the distortions
created by the fact that some may apply reduced rates for certain sectors that are elsewhere prohibited.

Accordingly, on 23 July 2003 the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on reduced rates (2).
Catering services have now been added to hotel services on the new list of goods and services eligible for
the reduced rate. In any event, the reduced rates remain entirely optional and it is therefore up to the
Member States to decide on the sectors where they wish to apply reduced rates.

The Council now has to decide unanimously on the future scope of reduced VAT rates.

(1) COM(2000) 348 final.
(2) COM(2003) 397 final.