WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2281/97 by Johanna BOOGERD-QUAAK , Jan MULDER to the Commission. Classic swine fever in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe
3. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 102/23 (98/C 102/34) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2278/97 by Luigi Moretti (NI) to the Council (18 July 1997) Subject: Employment In December 1993 the Brussels European Council expressed its support for a new economic and social strategy designed to fight the scourge of unemployment. In 1994 the Corfu European Council, and later the Essen summit, confirmed the commitment to adopting specific measures, including the encouragement of regional and local initiatives to create new jobs. In its proposal COM(95) 250 final of 13 June 1995 (1) the Commission sought to give fresh impetus to this effort by introducing a new programme entitled Essen, designed to promote new sources of employment. Will the Council say why this programme has been blocked and what measures it plans to take? (1) OJ C 235, 9. 9. 1995, p. 8. Answer (7 November 1997) The Commission submitted a proposal to the Council on 19 June 1995 on Commission activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment (OJ C 235/95). That proposal was amended by the Commission in September 1996 (OJ C 342/96 and it is this latter proposal which is now being examined by Council bodies. The Honourable Member should know that, in the light of the outcome of the European Council in Amsterdam, all delegations said they could support in principle the establishment of the proposed action. If indeed there was a blockage at some point, consideration of the actual text of the Decision resumed under the Luxembourg Presidency in July 1997. There is every reason to hope that a Council Decision on the matter can be adopted shortly. (98/C 102/35) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2281/97 by Johanna Boogerd-Quaak (ELDR) and Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission Subject: Classic swine fever in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe (2 July 1997) It appears that the desired results have not been obtained in the Netherlands or in other countries through the existing control method of slaughtering animals infected with swine fever. At the same time, there is increasing resistance in society to this control method. Accordingly, other control method should be considered where appropriate. In view of the foregoing, is the Commission prepared to authorize an experiment with a new vaccine or 1. with the newly developed marker vaccine against swine fever in certain areas of the Netherlands? 2. What is the minimum number of pigs which the Commission thinks should be involved in this experiment in the Netherlands? Does the Commission feel it is important for meat from vaccinated pigs not to end up in the human 3. consumption chain in any form whatsoever, and that the meat should therefore be destroyed? Does the Commission regard the existing destruction capacity in the Netherlands as adequate if a decision 4. has to be taken to destroy meat from vaccinated pigs? 5. If the Commission authorizes a vaccination experiment against swine fever in the Netherlands, will this have consequences for exports of pigmeat from areas outside the experimental area which are not infected with swine fever?