WRITTEN QUESTION P-0892/04 by Véronique De Keyser (PSE) to the Commission. European Super-Commissioner.
Date: 2004-03-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Commissioner, economic policy, operation of the Institutions, powers of the institutions (EU), social policy

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/695

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

An unprecedented epidemic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been ongoing in certain Asian
countries, which has already resulted in the loss of more than 100 million poultry and caused several
human deaths. Even more worryingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that, due to the
particular subtype of virus in question, the current situation in Asia might eventually lead to an epidemic
in the human population, with major health and socio-economic consequences world-wide.

Taking into account
the extremely serious consequences that such a disease agent could cause if
introduced into the Community, the Commission has adopted a number of precautionary measures,
including the suspension of importation of ornamental (pet) birds from the countries concerned. All
measures adopted by the Commission have been fully supported by the Member States in the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (Scofcah).

The Commission is in the process of assessing the most recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza world-wide.
The lessons learned from these events and the opinions delivered by scientists will be the basis for a
proposal for a revised legislation on the control of this disease, which the Commission intends to submit
to the Council and the Parliament in 2004.

In accordance with the Commission’s Communication on impact assessment (1), this proposal will be
acompanied by an extended impact assessment. In this context, the Commission will assess the risks as
well as the costs and benefits of the measures adopted in the past and of those proposed for the future in
relation to this disease. However, it can already be predicted that a precise assessment will often be very
difficult or even impossible, due to the rapidly changing and unpredictable nature of the disease agent,
scientific uncertainties and shortage of information on many relevant issues, including the risks posed by
pet birds and pet birds trade. In this regard, the most appropriate means of protection in the European
context will need to be considered.

The measures implemented to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza via the import of pet birds in
accordance with Commission Decision 2000/666/EC of 16 October 2000 laying down the animal health
requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of birds, other than poultry and the conditions
for quarantine (2) are kept under continuous review by the Commission at the Scofcah.

So far, highly pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses have not been detected in birds kept under quarantine.
However, thanks to these measures other exotic viruses of birds have been detected and their spread in the
Community thus prevented.

In accordance with current knowledge and experience,
the Commission therefore considers that the
current precautions (cid:1) supplemented as necessary by exceptional safeguard clauses like those recently
adopted in relation to the situation in Asia (cid:1) are the most appropriate to protect the Community from
undesired disease agents, including Avian Influenza. Unfortunately, we do not live in a zero risk world so
that one cannot exclude either the intentional or unintentional introduction of such a virus, although all
necessary precautions are being taken against such an eventuality.

(1) COM(2002) 276 final.
(2) OJ L 278, 31.10.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0781)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0892/04

by Véronique De Keyser (PSE) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: European Super-Commissioner

Mr Prodi has just expressed himself in favour of creating a European Super-Commissioner responsible for
economic affairs. Does the Commission intend to encourage the creation of an analogous post in the field
of social affairs or would the Super-Commissioner for economic affairs also be responsible, in a clear and
precise manner, for social affairs?

C 84 E/696

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

Under Article 217 of the EC Treaty, as last amended by the Nice Treaty,
‘the responsibilities incumbent
upon the Commission shall be structured and allocated among its Members by its President’. Thus it is for
the person who is appointed President of the next Commission to decide how responsibilities in the
economic and social fields will be allocated and whether, more particularly, wide-ranging coordination
responsibilities in the social field should be allocated to a Member of that Commission.

(2004/C 84 E/0782)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0900/04

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Subject: Breastfeeding in public places

Is the Commission aware that many women in a number of Member States experience difficulty when they
attempt to breastfeed in a public place?

Does the Commission consider that this is discriminatory against both mother and baby and that efforts
should be made to change attitudes to what is a perfectly normal and acceptable practice?

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2004)

The Community legislation in the area of equal treatment between women and men covers issues relevant
to the field of employment and occupation at this stage. The issue of breastfeeding in public places is not,
therefore, an issue of discrimination within the meaning of existing Community legislation.

As the Honourable Member has said, this is a matter of attitudes to what is considered normal and
acceptable practice in a society. The Community Framework Strategy on gender equality (2001-2005) (1) is
supported by an action programme which aims at raising awareness on gender issues in EU policies,
developing statistics and indicators and transnational networking of actors to promote gender equality.
Among the objectives of the strategy is ‘promoting gender equality in civil life’ and ‘promoting change of
gender roles and stereotypes’ which is about changing behaviour, attitudes, norms and values. This theme
is a priority theme within the gender equality programme for 2004 and 2005.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0783)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0928/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(22 March 2004)

Subject: Equality of treatment in the written test for competition COM/A/3/02, sector 2

With regard to written test (d) for the competition COM/A/3/02 (Sustainable developoment: Environ-
mental, energy and transport sciences and technologies) can the Commission say:

(cid:1) how many candidates chose each of the five topics and what proportion of each group were admitted

to the oral test;