WRITTEN QUESTION E-3169/03 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ban on dangerous dog breeds.
Date: 2003-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law - national law, civil defence, domestic animal

C 78 E/234

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3169/03

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Subject: Ban on dangerous dog breeds

Unfortunately, my previous questions concerning a ban on dangerous dogs have had no effect. It is true
that one or two Member States, Italy and Austria for example, have already taken measures against violent
and aggressive dogs by making muzzles compulsory in public places, such as bus stops and parks, and
introducing training schools for puppies, but these measures do not go far enough. Recently, we have
again been confronted with terrible headlines about pitbulls attacking children and adults. It is not enough
that individual Member States or regions tackle the behaviour of some breeds of dog. There must be a
European directive banning dangerous dog breeds.

How many more people need to be bitten to death or mutilated in the Commission’s opinion?

How much longer must we wait before action is finally taken at Community level?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The legal basis for Community action in the area of human health protection is Article 152 of the EC
Treaty. The first paragraph of this article stipulates that where Community action complements national
policies, the principle of subsidiarity applies. According to this principle, which is set out in Article 5 of
the EC Treaty, in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Community shall take action
only where the objectives of the proposed action can be better achieved by the Community.

In the case mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission does not have a sufficiently sound and
conclusive scientific basis to propose European legislation on this subject itself, rather than leaving it to the
Member States.

It is up to the Member States to adopt the necessary measures at national
accidents of this kind.

level

in order to prevent

(2004/C 78 E/0237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3174/03

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Subject: European film-making

What is the European Union doing through the MEDIA Programme to improve the quality of scripts for
European films? If a scriptwriter wishes to copyright his or her work can he or she do so at a pan-
European level, and, if so, is this form of copyright fully respected in other states including the US?

Given the fact that many European films which receive either national or EU assistance are art-house
productions or near-equivalents, does the Commission believe it would be helpful in terms of improved
access and larger audiences if English subtitles were added to the sub-titles of the language of the host
country, i.e. that a German film shown in Italy would have both English and Italian subtitles?

Finally, does the Commission believe that European films which might otherwise have some commercial
success are being crowded-out by the dominance of Hollywood distributors, and, if so, what remedies does
the Commission believe might be applicable?