WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3344/97 by Valerio BALDINI to the Commission. Starling hunting in Italy
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/143 (98/C 134/191) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3344/97 by Valerio Baldini (UPE) to the Commission (22 October 1997) Subject: Starling hunting in Italy Directive 79/409/EEC (1) on the conservation of wild birds, as amended by Directive 94/24/EEC (2), authorizes the hunting of starlings only in France, Greece, Spain and Portugal. Can the Commission explain why Italy does not enjoy similar treatment and must content itself with the possibility provided for in Article 9 of Directive 79/409/EEC of resorting to an application for a derogation? (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. (2) OJ L 164, 30. 6. 1994, p. 9. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (19 November 1997) Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds was amended in 1994 to include the starling (sturnus vulgaris) in Annex II/2 of the Directive and to authorise the hunting of this bird in just four Member States (Greece, Spain, France and Portugal). The Commission was not however aware of any desire by Italy to extend this provision to their national territory when preparatory work and discussions, which resulted in the Council adopting the amendment to the Directive in question, were taking place. Thus, prior to any further amendment to Annex II/2 of Council Directive 79/409/EEC, Italy may only derogate from the strict protection measures in force for this species for duly substantiated reasons, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 9 of the Directive. (98/C 134/192) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3350/97 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission (22 October 1997) Subject: Funding of projects for the protection of forests The Commission has allocated a sum of ECU 13. 4 million to projects aimed at protecting forests from atmospheric pollution and fires. Will it say which projects are intended for Portugal and what level of funding has been allocated in each case? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1997) The Commission has granted assistance of ECU 64 892 to four projects submitted by Portugal under Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 on the protection of the Communityís forests against atmospheric pollution (1). Under Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 on protection of the Communityís forests against fire (2), the Commission has granted assistance of ECU 2 482 888 to 23 Portuguese projects. Alist of the forest-protection projects approved in 1997 under the two Regulations is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat. (1) OJ L 326, 21. 11. 1986. (2) OJ L 217, 31. 7. 1992