WRITTEN QUESTION E-0260/04 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Blue tongue disease — protection of stock farmers in Lazio.
Date: 2004-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, Latium, aid to agriculture, animal disease, livestock farming, sheep, transport of animals, vaccination, veterinary legislation

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(2004/C 84 E/0226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0258/04

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(3 February 2004)

Subject: Cambodia: Assassination of members of the Opposition

On 22 January 2004, Chea Vichea, a Cambodian trade union leader, was assassinated in broad daylight in
the centre of Phnom Penh. Chea Vichea, aged 36, was the President of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of
Workers, a movement that he had himself founded in 1996 together with the leader of the Opposition,
Sam Rainsy. With more than 38 000 members, it is by far the most active and most significant trade
union. In July 2003, Chea Vichea had received a death threat over his mobile telephone (cid:1) a text message
threatening him with death. The police had succeeded in identifying the person who had sent the message.
However, since the person involved was very powerful, the police had told Chea Vichea that it could not
protect him and advised him to leave the country. Chea Vichea had also protested about this episode to
the UN Human Rights Bureau. The US State Department immediately issued a strong denunciation of the
assassination, the latest in a long series of politically-motivated murders and attempted murders which,
over recent months and weeks, have targeted activists in the Sam Rainsy Party, the Opposition party
which, together with Funcinpec, constitutes the Alliance of Democrats. For example, Mr Lay Kong was
murdered on 10 January 2004. On 15 January, Mr Chhin La and Mr Keo Chan suffered the same fate.
On 16 January, Mr Chhoeum Chhoeung miraculously escaped assassination by taking refuge in the
regional headquarters of the SRP. A large number of political analysts blame the Prime Minister, Hun Sen,
and his cohorts for this atmosphere of tension and terror which has been created so as to ensure that the
Opposition bows to the wishes of the Prime Minister with regard to the formation of the new government.

Has the Commission issued an official response to the murders of eminent politicians and political activists
over the last few weeks in Cambodia? What measures has it taken, or will it take, so as to make it crystal
the
clear to the Prime Minister, Hun Sen,
Commission feel that a situation of this nature demands a strong and consistent approach from the
international community? In that connection, does not the Commission feel that it might usefully propose
to the Council that it launch a joint initiative with the United States, Japan and Australia so that it may
play a leading role in the devising of a political solution to the serious crisis that is currently affecting
Cambodia?

these methods are totally unacceptable? Does not

that

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

The Commission fully shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member regarding the recent acts
of violence and the climate of intimidation and impunity that still prevails in Cambodia.

The Commission sincerely hopes that the Cambodian authorities will take all the necessary steps,
in
accordance with due process of law, to tackle the recent acts of violence. It also supports calls on all
political parties in Cambodia to continue to pursue negotiations, in a constructive and peaceful manner,
which would lead to the swift formation of a new government.

The Commission and Member States in Phnom Penh will continue to follow the situation in Cambodia
closely and remain ready to consider any further actions which could lead to a solution of the political
impasse.

(2004/C 84 E/0227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0260/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(3 February 2004)

Subject: Blue tongue disease (cid:1) protection of stock farmers in Lazio

Following the outbreak of ovine catarrhal fever in four Member States in 2000 (Italy, Spain, Greece and
France), measures were taken to combat and eradicate so-called ‘blue tongue’ disease.

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At present there are no established cases confirming that the virus exists and is circulating in Italy. In recent
years, however, the region of Lazio has employed vast resources to meet its Community obligations on
time. Nevertheless, stock farmers in the Lazio region have questioned the need to continue vaccinating
animals, given that there is still no scientific guarantee that the process is harmless. Indeed, the compulsory
nature of vaccination in recent years has clearly caused harm to animals,
in particular a decline in
production, a reduction in milk yield and deterioration in animal welfare conditions on farms.

In addition, there is also a real danger that the 20 000 or more farms in Lazio will see a drastic decline in
productivity with serious socio-economic implications, as they are forbidden to transport vaccinated
animals without a health certificate from their region of origin.

Will the Commission say:

1. whether scientific studies have been carried out into side effects, including long-term ones?

2. whether it is aware of any undesirable effects of the vaccine?

3. whether,

in the light of the harmful effects that have been detected, it intends to review existing
in particular Directive 2000/75/EC (1) and Commission decision 2001/

legislation on the matter,
783/EC (2)?

4. what financial instruments could be used to assist stock farmers?

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 74.
(2) OJ L 293, 10.11.2001 p. 42.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2004)

The decision to use vaccination to combat the bluetongue epidemic in the Mediterranean region over
recent years was not made without taking the necessary precautions.

The Scientific Committee was consulted, safety checks were carried out on the vaccines used, and the
option of resorting to vaccination was chosen only after detailed consideration in close cooperation with
the national authorities.

The vaccination campaigns achieved remarkable results where they were conducted so as to ensure
sufficient vaccine cover of flocks in the affected areas.

Thus, the campaigns enabled rapid eradication of the disease on the Balearic islands and a spectacular
reduction in the number of infection sources in regions such as Sardinia, which were particularly affected
by the epidemic.

The results have been regularly passed on to the Commission by the Italian authorities and an exhaustive
presentation was given at the Symposium held in October 2003 in Taormina at the instigation of the
International Office of Epizootics (World Animal Health Organisation).

Although the Italian authorities noted undesirable effects of the vaccine,
significant to outweigh the benefits derived from vaccination.

they were not sufficiently

In addition, the measures (cid:1) adopted by Decision 2001/783/EC (cid:1) restricting movement of livestock from
infected areas have been amended on several occasions. The last amendment by Decision 2004/34/EC (1)
was designed to ease restrictions in view of the reduced levels of virus following vaccination.

Lastly, as regards the financial instrument enabling the Commission to provide compensation for the losses
incurred by stock farmers whose flocks were affected by bluetongue, Council Decision 90/424/EEC of
26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (2) has helped the Community to contribute
significantly. The Community’s contribution for the 2000 financial year, to date the latest one closed, was
EUR 11 million.

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Member States may also grant state aid to compensate the losses incurred by stock farmers as a result of
animal diseases for which a prevention, control and eradication programme has been adopted at
Community, national or regional level. In particular, under point 11.4 of the Guidelines for state aid in the
agriculture sector (3), support up to 100 % of the losses incurred may be granted to stock farmers affected.
Such aid must be notified in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. Some Italian regions have
notified aid schemes to compensate losses related to bluetongue.

(1) 2004/34/EC: Commission Decision of 6 January 2004 amending Decision 2003/828/EC with regard to the
(notified under document

movements of vaccinated animals from protection zones (Text with EEA relevance)
number C(2003) 5306), OJ L 7, 13.1.2004.

(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.
(3) OJ C 28, 1.2.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0261/04

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Reported Spanish ban on motorcycles towing trailers

(3 February 2004)

Can the Commission confirm that a ban exists in Spain against motorcycles towing trailers? Is such a ban
legal under EU law, ‘inter alia’ on transport and free movement, and what action does the Commission
propose to take, if this is indeed the case?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2004)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the transposition into Spanish law in 1997 and
1998 of Directive 97/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1997 on certain
components and characteristics of two or three-wheel motor vehicles (1) made possible the type-approval
and registration in that Member State of two or three-wheel vehicles (motorcycles) with coupling devices
for trailers or semitrailers. However, there continued to be a ban on motocycles towing a trailer the
General Vehicles Regulation.

As the Commission considered that the total ban on using a motorcycle towing a trailer was likely to
constitute an obstacle to the freedom of movement, in 1998 it started infringement proceedings against
Spain under Article 226 of the EC Treaty for infringement of Articles 18, 28 and 49 on the free movement
of persons and goods and the freedom to provide services. This procedure is currently pending before the
Court of Justice of the European Communities (Case C-197/02).

The Spanish authorities very recently adopted Royal Decree No 1428/2003 of 21 November 2003
approving the General Road Traffic Regulation in implementation of the Law on road traffic, motor
vehicles and road safety of 2 March 1990. This new General Road Traffic Regulation entered into force on
23 January 2004 and repealed the total ban on using a motorcycle towing a trailer in Spain.

The Commission emphasises that Article 12 of the new Regulation authorises motorcycles to tow trailers
or sidecars only if they do not exceed 50 % of the weight of the towing vehicle. The use of these trailers is
also subject to certain conditions: they must be used during daylight and in conditions that guarantee good
visibility, the speed of the motorcycle must be reduced by 10 % compared with the speed limit, and these
trailers may not in any circumstances be used to transport people.

Nevertheless, the General Vehicle Regulation, which is in the process of being amended, will also have to
repeal this ban.

(1) OJ L 226, 18.8.1997.