WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3709/97 by Wolfgang KREISSL-DÖRFLER to the Commission. Transport of animals to Lebanon
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/179 The Commission is not familiar with the Ministry of finance projections cited by the Honourable Member. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand that there is no unique measure of the net budgetary position of the Member States. To calculate such estimates it is necessary to make assumptions about, for example, the definition of expenditure, the beneficiaries of expenditure, and the accounting treatment of spending. These assumptions play a crucial role in the measurement of budgetary positions, and explain why estimates for the same Member State can differ, often substantially. The Commission, taking account of this, does not produce data for budgetary positions nor does it endorse any particular methodology for estimating them. (1) COM(97) 2000 final. (2) SEC(97) 1918. (98/C 134/245) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3709/97 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Do¤rfler (V) to the Commission (10 November 1997) Subject: Transport of animals to Lebanon Each year hundreds of thousands of live animals are exported from the European Union Member States to third countries. Again and again it emerges that the animals are being transported under scandalous conditions, which have been repeatedly condemned by the European Parliament. The necessity to transport live animals, particularly animals for slaughter, can hardly continue to be justified, all the more so when such transportation is subsidized by the EU. It appears that the Lebanese agriculture ministry recently indicated its willingness to import more frozen meat instead of live animals, if the EU could provide financial assistance with the construction of cold-storage depots. Is the Commission aware of Lebanonís willingness to import more frozen meat from EU countries and its wish for cold-storage depots? If so: 1. Which Lebanese government department has sought support from the Commission for the building of cold-storage depots in Lebanon? When was the request made and when and how did the Commission react? 2. Has the Commission made a spontaneous offer to the Lebanese authorities to assist with the building of cold-storage depots in Lebanon, for example in the framework of the European Unionís MEDA programme? When was this offer made, and what was the reaction from the Lebanese side? 3. Can the Commission give more details of the ácold-storage depot projectí, e. g. size, capacity, locations, cost, starting and completion dates for building? 4. Can the Commission say to what extent and in what time frame the export of live cattle and sheep for slaughter to Lebanon will be reduced by the building of cold-storage depots? If not: Does the Commission intend to make the Lebanese authorities an offer of financial help with the building of cold-storage depots on its own initiative? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 December 1997) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible