WRITTEN QUESTION E-3920/03 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. ECHO.
Date: 2003-12-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, Somalia, air transport, communications profession, humanitarian aid, neutrality, operation of the Institutions

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/655

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2004)

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the
animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and amending
Council Directive 92/65/EEC (1) is applicable as of 3 July 2003. The Commission Decision establishing a
model passport, applying Article 17 (2) of this Regulation, therefore applies from the same date.

The conditions applying to movements of domestic carnivores are therefore laid down by Regulation (EC)
No 998/2003. The general rule for movements between Member States other than Ireland, Sweden and the
United Kingdom is a current valid vaccination against rabies.

The aim of the passport is to have a single standardised veterinary document at Union level to facilitate
controls on cats, dogs and ferrets circulating within European territory. It is intended to replace the various
existing documents in the Member States, which caused a range of linguistic difficulties and had various
formats, which did not facilitate their use when moving through the Union.

It may be completed by veterinarians in accordance with the animal’s movements. It is a European
veterinary certificate which will accompany the animal throughout its life and on which all events relating
to its health status can be entered.

Finally, the passport will also be of use for movements to Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The
headings corresponding to the particular provisions applying to these three Member States for a period of
five years will therefore need to be completed.

(1) OJ L 146, 13.6.2003.

(2004/C 88 E/0672)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3920/03

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 December 2003)

Subject: ECHO

In the light of representations from journalists, will the Commission consider changing its policy so that it
would allow journalists to fly on ECHO flights to Mogadishu, Somalia?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of the arguments put forward by Mr Alberizzi, a correspondent of Corrierre
della Sera, who requested that ECHO Flight should be made available to provide transport to journalists
wishing to travel to Somalia.

As already expressed in its reply to Mr Alberizzi’s open letter (1), the Commission is not in a position to
revise its policy on the use of ECHO Flight. ECHO Flight
is a humanitarian service supporting
humanitarian and rehabilitation projects in Somalia, Northern Kenya and the Democratic Republic of
Congo by transporting staff and cargo required for the implementation of these projects. Given its
humanitarian character, and in order to maintain access to conflict zones, it is of outmost importance that
ECHO Flight demonstrates at all times neutrality and impartiality. Any association with political messages
the missions of politicians, political officials and also journalists may produce, risks putting these basic
principles in jeopardy.

For these reasons, a restrictive policy on the use of ECHO Flight needs to be adhered to.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/pdf_files/letter_echo_flight.pdf