WRITTEN QUESTION P-0126/04 by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Permits for capture, breeding and trading of protected species in Greece in violation of EU legislation.
Date: 2004-01-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, infringement of EU law, marketing, protected species, protection of animal life

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/933

Is the Commission of the opinion that even if the death penalty is permissible under international law,
there should be a fair and lengthy appeals process before execution takes place? Therefore given that these
mobile execution vans preclude any form of appeal for those convicted of capital offences (which in the
People’s Republic of China can include ‘economic crimes’) this will inevitably result in miscarriages of
justice. Therefore, if the allegations prove to be true, Fiat of Italy should be condemned for participating in
such a tender.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2004)

The Commission has no information on the possible involvement of European companies in invitations to
tender published by the People’s Republic of China for the purchase of vehicles for the purpose of
executions.

In its bilateral dialogue with China on human rights, the EU has never stopped reiterating its fundamental
opposition to the death penalty, regardless of the methods used, including that cited by the Honourable
Member. It has also regularly pressed (cid:1) and will continue to press (cid:1) the Chinese authorities, in the
present circumstances, to see that the fundamental rights of the condemned, including the right to appeal
against their sentence, are respected in full.

(2004/C 78 E/0987)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0109/04

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(19 January 2004)

Subject: Sikhs and the banning of religious articles of faith

Is the European Commission aware of the implications for the Sikh community in any EU Member State
which is considering the banning of religious articles of faith?

Is any action or analysis of this situation, which is of deepening concern to ethnic minority Europeans,
being taken at EU level?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2004)

The Commission is monitoring the developments the Honourable Member refers to through an ongoing
dialogue with religious and ideological groups, based on deep respect for religious diversity. Should
violations of
the
Commission would take the appropriate action to ensure that these rights were respected.

fundamental rights (including freedom of religion) occur, under Community law,

(2004/C 78 E/0988)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0126/04

by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 January 2004)

Subject: Permits for capture, breeding and trading of protected species in Greece in violation of EU

legislation

From August 2002 to January 2003, Greece has issued permits to a private company to capture and use as
breeding stock for subsequent selling a large number of reptiles and amphibians (ranging from 220 to 600
per species to a total of 8 540) from a large number of species (a total of 90 species), without any other
the capture. The permits include
restrictions about

the time and the circumstances of

the place,

C 78 E/934

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

authorisations to capture many species included in the Habitats Directive, among them one priority species
(macrovipera schweizeri).

There are no reports regarding the overall population of the species concerned or impact assessments on
the consequences of the permits to the natural populations of these species. The permits were issued
without the knowledge of the relevant National Scientific CITES committee.

The authorisations concerning specific species are alarming.

For example:

(cid:1) the capture of 320 individuals of chamaeleo africanus, when the best available estimate of the size of

the European population is 300, found exclusively in only one locality in Greece, or

(cid:1) the capture of 600 individuals of vipera ursinii

(listed in Habitats Directive Annex II,

in CITES

Annex I), as well as several species listed in Annexes II and III.

Is the Commission aware of these permits and the apparent breach of EU legislation, in particular Council
Directive 92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, in addition to
international commitments under the CITES and Bern Conventions, by the Greek authorities?

What measures will the Commission take to stop the implementation of the permits in question without
further delay, and to prevent permits which risk prejudicing the attainment of the objectives of EU
legislation from being issued by the Greek authorities in the future?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2004)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that, on the basis of a complaint (No 2003/
4831) regarding the issue by the Ministry of Agriculture of authorisations to collect and breed a number of
Greek wildlife species included in the Annexes II and/or IV of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May
1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, it has opened a file in order to
examine if this practice complies with the obligations under Articles 12 and 16 of this Directive. The
Commission would like to assure the Honourable Member that it will continue the investigation of the
complaint and will not hesitate to take all necessary measures needed for assuring that Greece acts in
conformity with Community Law.

With regard to the possibility of an infringement of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December
1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (1) (CITES), Articles 5
and 8 of this Regulation allow commercial trade in the species included in Annexes A, B and C, if these
have been legally taken from the wild in the territory of a Member State. Consequently, any breach of this
Regulation would only arise in respect of such species listed in the Regulation (not other species) and then
only if it can be established that the Greek authorities issued permits for such species in defiance of their
own laws or of Council Directive 92/43/EEC.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2004/C 78 E/0989)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0147/04

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Combating the use of drugs in sport

In his first speech to the newly elected European Parliament, on 21 July 1999, Commission President Prodi
gave three examples of what ‘renewal’ meant to him. One of these was the fight against drug use in the