WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/04 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Johne's disease.
Date: 2004-03-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal tuberculosis, epidemiology, research project, veterinary medicine, zootechnics

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/445

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2004)

The Italian authorities have not approached the Commission to discuss the crisis affecting Alcatel and
potential remedies.

As far as the negative effects on the economy are concerned, the Battipaglia region is eligible for assistance
from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Objective 1, the Rieti province is partly
eligible for assistance under Objective 2 and the municipality of Cittaducale, where the Alcatel plant is
located, is an eligible area.

Measures to convert production capacity may be financed,
following an initiative by the regional
authorities (Campania and Lazio), which are the authorities responsible for selecting and conducting
operations.

The Commission wishes to point out
that several Community Directives lay down procedures of
information and of consultation of workers’ representatives which can prove to be applicable in the event
of restructuring of companies,
in particular Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning
collective redundancies (1), and Council Directive 94/45/EC, of 22 September 1994, concerning the
European Works Councils (2). Another Directive was also adopted on 11 March 2002 by the Parliament
and the Council with the aim of supplementing the Community mechanism on the matter (Directive
2002/14/EC establishing a general framework relating to information and consultation of workers in the
European Community (3)).

It is important to recall that the Directive 98/59/EC on collective redundancies stipulates that, when an
employer envisages collective redundancies, it is required to carry out, in good time, consultations with the
workers’ representatives with a view to reaching an agreement. These consultations cover at least the
possibilities of avoiding or of reducing the collective redundancies as well as the possibilities of alleviating
their consequences by recourse to social accompanying measures aiming at,
in particular, aid for
redeployment and retraining of redundant workers.

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
(2) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.
(3) OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0519)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 March 2004)

Subject: Johne’s disease

What plans does the Commission have to address the animal welfare issues posed by Johne’s disease in the
EU?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The Commission is obviously concerned at the serious animal health and welfare issues posed by the
occurrence of Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis) within the EU.

With a view to increasing the available scientific knowledge, a number of specific research projects have
already been funded under the Community’s Framework Programmes to investigate this disease. These
have considered aspects such as improved diagnostic methods, epidemiology and risk assessment, the role
of wildlife in disease transmission and management tools to control the disease in domestic ruminants.

The Commission has also recently requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to issue a
scientific opinion on the risk of transmission of the causative organism Mycobacterium avium subsp.
paratuberculosis via bovine semen.

C 84 E/446

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission will carefully analyse the outcome of this work and ongoing scientific advances with a
view to taking appropriate steps to safeguard the health and welfare of animals within the EU.

In addition, it should be noted that programmes for the control and/or eradication of Johne’s disease are in
principle eligible for Community co-financing within the framework of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of
26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1). However, to date, no Member State has submitted
such a programme to the Commission for consideration.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(2004/C 84 E/0520)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0728/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Ansaldo-Breda: possible monitoring of EU funding

At the meeting last week in Brussels involving trade union delegations and workers from Ansaldo-Breda,
it emerged that the company has benefited from assistance supporting production activities in depressed
areas of Italy, as provided for in Italian Law No 488/92, in the form of EU cofinancing. Specifically,
funding has been made available for work on replacing the company’s roof with eternit (asbestos lumber),
so as to bring the workplace up to European standards in terms of safeguarding and protecting workers.

However, it would not appear that funding was requested to provide environmental protection for the
surrounding area, despite the presence of an important acquifer in the vicinity of the establishment.

In view of the above, can the Commission state:

1. Whether Ansaldo-Breda has received funding and, if so, what kind?

2. What instruments can be adopted to check whether any funding awarded to Ansaldo-Breda has

actually been used?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2004)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2004/C 84 E/0521)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0734/04

by Philip Bushill-Matthews (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 March 2004)

Subject: Skiing safety and standardisation

Is the Commission aware that the grading of green, blue, red and black on ski-runs in different resorts and
different countries can vary considerably?

Is the Commission concerned that such variation can not only be misleading to consumers, but may also
constitute a safety risk to skiers who could find themselves on runs that are beyond their abilities?