WRITTEN QUESTION No. 469/98 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. The role of guidelines in agreeing structural funds programmes, as agreed at the informal Council in Ireland (14-15.11.1996)
C 402/12 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 12. 98 On 6-7th April 1998 a scientific meeting organized and supported by the Commission has been held on the unresolved problem of the persistence of classical swine fever in wild boar in some areas of Germany, Italy and France. This matter will be further discussed at the standing veterinary committee and at the scientific veterinary committee, with the aim to review the adequacy of the measures adopted so far. The economic losses due to the occurrence of the epidemic are difficult to estimate with precision. The affected Member States compensate the sanitary slaughtering of the pigs in case of outbreak. The Community reimburses 50 % of such costs (estimate of Community participation for 1997 outbreaks: 116. 8 MECU). Furthermore the Commission has adopted several decisions laying down exceptional market support measures in the Member States affected by the disease. The measures are reimbursed at 70 % by the Community (Community participation for 1997: 497. 59 MECU). (1) OJ L 47, 21. 2. 1980. (98/C 402/012) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0460/98 by Shaun Spiers (PSE) to the Commission (16 February 1998) Subject: Welfare of laying hens When does the Commission intend to bring forward proposals on improving the welfare of laying hens? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-115/98 by Mrs Pollack (1). (1) OJ C 304, 2. 10. 1998, p. 33. (98/C 402/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0469/98 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (27 February 1998) Subject: The role of guidelines in agreeing structural funds programmes, as agreed at the informal Council in Ireland (14-15. 11. 1996) What is the Commissionís own evaluation of the extent to which guidelines published by the Commission affect actual programmes within the Member States? What process is the Commission undertaking to make such an evaluation? Is it the Commissionís intention to include the continuation of such guidelines within its proposed new structural fund programmes? If so, what new consultation will take place about the guidelines, and by what date does the Commission expect to approve them? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (6 April 1998) As indicated in the Commissionís document issued on 30 May 1997 (1), the guidelines, together with the intermediate evaluations of programmes, would form the basis for adjustments in the framework of the overall mid-term review of the six year programmes 1994-1999