WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1631/97 by Philippe MONFILS to the Commission. Illegal trafficking in cultural artefacts
C 45/66 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 2. 98 (98/C 45/79) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1631/97 by Philippe Monfils (ELDR) to the Commission (14 May 1997) Subject: Illegal trafficking in cultural artefacts For a number of years, one of the methods of combating the illegal trafficking in cultural artefacts has been the practice of marking them in some way. Much work and a number of reports have already been completed on the subject of this procedure. Has the Commission any intention of carrying out a study into the matter with a view to determining the reliability of this practice? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (10 July 1997) Title VI of the Treaty on the European Union provides that cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs takes place within the Council. There are two aspects to the fight against the unlawful trade in cultural goods: the completion of the single market and the fight against theft and receiving. As part of the completion of the single market, a Regulation and a Directive have been adopted by the Council on a proposal from the Commission. These texts relate to the export of cultural goods and the return of national treasures (1). Measures to combat theft and receiving are a matter for intergovernmental cooperation under Title VI of the Treaty on the European Union. The Commission does not see any obstacle to the marking of cultural goods but it is for the Member States to adopt such measures. Such procedures would make it possible to clearly identify goods for which an export licence was sought or national treasures the return of which was desired. However, it is the Member States which issue licences or classify cultural goods as national treasures; Member States are therefore responsible for drafting and adopting provisions in this field. (1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92 of 9 December 1992 on the export of cultural goods › OJ L 395, 31. 12. 1992 Council Directive 93/7/EEC of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State › OJ L 74, 27. 3. 1993 (98/C 45/80) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1633/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (14 May 1997) Subject: Responsibility for animal welfare in DG VI and DG XXIV In view of the reorganization of some units of DG VI following the transfer of certain responsibilities to DG XXIV, would the Commission use this opportunity to give serious consideration to amending the existing formal consultative procedures to include animal welfare? Although virtually all other sectors of the agricultural industry are formally consulted over issues in one form or another, this does not apply to animal welfare. Would the Commission not agree that the continued absence of any formal consultation with a representative animal welfare organization would be seen by some as another example of DG VIís bias towards the industry, particularly in matters concerning the welfare of farm animals? The new responsibilities assumed by DG XXIV include the monitoring of the Veterinary Inspectorate and supervision of the work of the Scientific Committees. Would the Commission give an assurance that not only will the monitoring of the effectiveness of Directive 95/29/EC on the transport of animals remain a priority for the Inspectorate, but that it will also do its best to increase the present inadequate resources available for this task? In addition would the Commission give a further assurance that the issue of the welfare of farm animals will remain a priority for the work of the Scientific Veterinary Committee?