WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1635/97 by Doeke EISMA to the Commission. The cormorant
C 21/76 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 1. 98 The Commission is participating actively in CFSP work. The Commission is, however, not in a position to anticipate future developments with regard to the possible imposition of further sanctions on Burma, in particular since Member States are engaged in a discussion on the usefulness of economic sanctions to achieve political objectives. (1) OJ L 348, 31. 12. 1994. OJ L 160, 29. 6. 1996. (98/C 21/169) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1635/97 by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission (14 May 1997) Subject: The cormorant Following remarks by Commissioner Bjerregaard about the cormorant, I should like to ask the following questions: 1. Is it true that the Commission is considering removing the cormorant from Annex I of the wild birds directive (79/409/EEC) (1)? 2. When does the Commission intend to do this, and in what way will it inform Parliament? 3. What is the basis for the Commissionís view that there is a need to remove the cormorant from Annex I of the wild birds directive? 4. Can the Commission indicate whether it also intends to add species to Annex I of the wild birds directive? (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (25 June 1997) There are three species and sub-species of cormorants listed in Annex I of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. These are the pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), the Mediterranean sub-species of the shag (P. aristoteles desmarestii) and the continental sub-species of the great cormorant (P. carbo sinensis). Given that the pygmy cormorant is globally threatened and that the Mediterranean sub-species of the shag is still very vulnerable, the Commission would not favour their removal from Annex I of the Directive. As recognized in the resolution adopted by the Parliament in February 1996, the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) has significantly increased in numbers. On the basis of the scientific information available and after several consultations, the Commission considers that this species has reached a favourable conservation status at the European level. As such the conservation measures have worked. The Commission is consequently preparing a proposal for the removal of Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Annex I of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. The Parliament was already informed of this situation, and the Commission would therefore refer the Honourable Member to its previous answer to the written question No 3950/96 by Mr. T. P. Bebear (1) and to the reply it gave to oral question H-124/97 by Mrs Schwaiger during question time at Parliamentís March 1997 part-session (2). Due to the urgency of the matter, the draft proposal was submitted for a vote during the meeting of the committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the birds Directive. This draft proposal was approved by the Committee and is forwarded to the Parliament for information. The Commission will take the necessary steps in order for the Commission to further consider this proposal for adoption. At this stage however, the Commission does not intend to propose in the short term an extension of the list of species covered by Annex I of the birds Directive. (1) OJ C 186, 18. 6. 1997. (2) Debates of the Parliament (March 1997)