WRITTEN QUESTION No. 987/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI , Amedeo AMADEO , Roberta ANGELILLI , Spalato BELLERE' , Marco CELLAI , Sebastiano MUSUMECI , Gastone PARIGI , Salvatore TATARELLA , Antonio TRIZZA to the Council. Pre- accession negotiations with Slovenia
21. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 323/103 (98/C 323/154) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0986/98 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Council (31 March 1998) Subject: Exports of live animals On 18 December 1997, the Council agreed to amend Regulation (EC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal. Amendments to the conditions under which live animals may be exported to third countries include the introduction of controls involving veterinary inspections at third-country entry points. Having decided deliberately to exclude animal welfare groups from being authorisd to carry out such checks, even though they have been the only organizations prepared to expose cruel treatment of exported animals, will the Council say what procedures have been introduced to enforce the requirements of the amended Regulation and how many veterinary inspectors are to be employed for this task? Answer (29 June 1998) On 18 December 1997, having consulted the European Parliament, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2634/97 (1) which amends Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 to make the payment of the refund for exports of live animals subject to compliance with the provisions on animal welfare. Article 13(12) of the Regulation thus amended stipulates that it is for the Commission, using the Management Committee procedure, to determine the detailed rules of application for ensuring that the new requirements are monitored satisfactorily, especially in third countries. A more detailed reply to the Honourable Memberís questions will therefore be obtained from the Commission. (1) OJ L 356, 31. 12. 1997, p. 13. (98/C 323/155) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0987/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI), Amedeo Amadeo (NI), Roberta Angelilli (NI), Spalato Bellere· (NI), Marco Cellai (NI), Sebastiano Musumeci (NI), Gastone Parigi (NI), Salvatore Tatarella (NI) and Antonio Trizza (NI) to the Council Subject: Pre-accession negotiations with Slovenia (31 March 1998) Fifty years after the end of the war, Sloveniaís ambassador to Italy has stated that the time has not yet come for reconciliation between Italy and Slovenia. As is well known, there are still outstanding issues in the field of bilateral relations between the two countries (the return of property confiscated from the exiles forced to abandon their homes in 1947 and recognition of the brutal massacres carried out in the Foibeí limestone chasms), and for some time the two parties have been making diplomatic efforts to reach satisfactory solutions to these and other problems. The ambassadorís remarks contrast sharply with these efforts, and are hardly consistent with his countryís desire to accede to the EU, which stands for peace and harmony in international relations. In view of the foregoing, 1. What is the Councilís opinion of the statement in question, in view of the forthcoming opening of pre-accession negotiations with Slovenia? 2. Does it agree that, regardless of questions that fall within the province of bilateral relations, this hostile stance is incompatible with the friendly relations, based on mutual respect, that prevail between Member States of the Union? 3. Does it agree that this imprudent and unacceptable attitude, which indicates contempt for human rights in respect of the two unresolved questions referred to above, could jeopardize the smooth progress and objective nature of the negotiations? 4. Does it agree that, as a useful and necessary preliminary to embarking on pre-accession negotiations with Slovenia, that country should be asked to clarify its position with regard to reconciliation with Italy?