WRITTEN QUESTION E-0914/04 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Illegal bird-trapping in Cyprus.
Date: 2004-03-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, accession to the European Union, application of EU law, protection of animal life

C 88 E/246

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

country driving a Community registered vehicle performing international carriage of goods (under the
cover of a Community authorisation) must be in the possession of a driver attestation when checked,
among others also at the border when entering the Community.

In principle at present all drivers covered by the scope of Regulation (EC) No 881/92 are checked at the
external border when first entering the Community. This situation will not change after enlargement.

Moreover, the regulation mentioned provides that the competent authorities of the Member State of
establishment shall regularly verify, by carrying out checks each year, covering at least 20 % of the valid
attestations issued in that Member State, whether the conditions under which a driver attestation has been
issued are still satisfied.

Finally, the objective of the Regulation (EC) No 484/2002 is not the protection of the internal market from
competitive enterprises of non-member countries but the proper functioning of the Community’s internal
market for road transport.

(1) OJ L 95, 9.4.1992.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 484/2002 of the Parliament and of the Council of 1 March 2002 amending Council Regulations
(EEC) No 881/92 and (EEC) No 3118/93 for the purposes of establishing a driver attestation, OJ L 76, 19.3.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0914/04

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Subject: Illegal bird-trapping in Cyprus

Each year an estimated 12 million birds are illegally trapped while on migration through Cyprus. The use
is still
of such trapping methods as mist nets and lime sticks, which contravenes the Birds Directive,
widespread.

Given that Cyprus has to fully implement and enforce the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC (1)) and the Habitats
Directive (92/43/EEC (2)) as of 1 May 2004, what action is the Commission taking to curb the practice of
illegal bird-trapping and to ensure full implementation and enforcement by the date of accession?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The Commission clearly pointed out during the negotiations for accession and the subsequent pre-
accession period that certain bird-trapping methods, like those involving the use of mist nets and lime
sticks, are incompatible with the provisions of the Birds Directive, Council Directive 79/409/EEC of
2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, as modified by Commission Directive 91/244/EEC of
6 March 1991 (1). The practice is illegal
in Cyprus and the Cypriot authorities have assured the
Commission that they would step up efforts for effective enforcement of the law in question.

Cyprus is required to ensure full implementation of the Birds and Habitats, (Council Directive 92/43/EEC
of 31 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) Directives from the
date of accession to the European Union. From 1 May 2004 onwards the Commission will
take
appropriate measures to ensure full implementation of these Directives as it would for any other Member
State.

In this pre-accession period, Cyprus has now transposed these two Directives and is therefore obliged to
implement them under Cyprus national law.

(1) OJ L 115, 8.5.1991.