WRITTEN QUESTION E-0266/00 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission. Future of European stamps of philatelic value.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/205 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (29 February 2000) The Commission is informed about the treatment of animals during the Eid-el-Kabir festival in France. The inadequate slaughterhouse capacities in certain urban areas of France appear to be one of the reasons for the observations made with regard to treatment of animals during the festival. A distinction should be made between the problems resulting from the lack of slaughterhouse capacity and those related to the way animals are treated during restraint and killing. The Commission would welcome any effort from French authorities to find a solution for the problem concerning slaughterhouse capacity. On the other hand, however, treatment of animals which causes suffering during restraint and slaughter is not acceptable. The Member States are responsible for the enforcement of Community legislation concerning the slaughter and killing of animals in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing. The Commission has contacted the French authorities in order to give them the opportunity to react to the different complaints received by the Commission concerning the treatment of the animals. The French authorities have informed the Commission that, for reasons of public order and public health, it has been found necessary to designate certain sites outside slaughterhouses specifically for the purpose of the celebration of the festival. Some steps have recently been taken by the French authorities to involve Islamic cultural groups more widely in discussions on this issue in order to improve the situation and to achieve better animal welfare and hygiene conditions. The French authorities have stressed that progress needs to be obtained through consultation and consensus. The Commission fully understands that the issues involved are sensitive and that in certain areas in France they create serious problems for the French authorities. It must, on the other hand, be observed that failure to respect the fundamental provisions of Directive 93/119/EEC and the relevant Community sanitary rules involves serious breaches of Community law. The Commission is therefore reviewing the matter with a view to possibly opening infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) EC Treaty. (2000/C 280 E/242) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0266/00 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission (7 February 2000) Subject: Future of European stamps of philatelic value The production and ownership of postage stamps has in the past generally been the monopoly of state postal services. However, as a result of wider social trends, state postal services too are being privatised. Philatelists own large collections of stamps, the value of which rests upon the rarity, condition and inherent interest of the stamps. The most valuable stamps constitute a significant investment. With the privatisation of the postal services, the stocks of old stamps held by state postal services are being transferred to private ownership. Stamps owned by state postal services have hitherto been reckoned as perpetually out of circulation on the market. That being so, these stocks of stamps will constitute a threat to philately, if as a result of privatisation new collections of old stamps ü the value of which is in principle the same as the stamps in national collections and on the market ü appear on the market in addition to known stamps. Indeed, there are no longer any known limits to the quantity of these rare stamps, and even large collections could be ruined in a moment by a collapse in their value. What measures has the Commission taken, or can it take, to ensure that the conditions for the pursuit of philately, stamp collection and related investments are preserved and strengthened in the EU? C 280 E/206 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) The collections of postage stamps that post offices may currently have in stock form part of their assets. Should a Member State decide to privatise its public postal service, it must also determine, as for its other assets, what happens to these collections, taking into account the market for them. As the Commission is responsible neither for determining ownership arrangements in Member States nor it cannot intervene regarding what is done with these stamp for organising how stamps are issued, collections when such a change of status occurs. (2000/C 280 E/243) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0283/00 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (3 February 2000) Subject: CITES ü Listing of basking sharks The UK Government has proposed that Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. the basking shark should be listed in Appendix II of the 1. Will the Commission list other Member States which have indicated to date that they also support the listing of the basking shark? 2. Will the Commission indicate whether it intends to support such a listing at the next Conference of the Parties in April 2000? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) There are good scientific arguments for supporting the proposal to list the basking shark in Appendix II of Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). However, the Commission itself has yet to adopt a formal position on this point. Member States will in due course determine the Communityís common position on the basis of a proposal from the Commission for the CITES conference of the parties. indicate their views in the Council, which will (2000/C 280 E/244) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0286/00 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Difficulties affecting the Rome newspaper Il Tempo The difficulties of Il Tempo, a well-known Rome newspaper which has not been on the news-stands for several days, have recently been causing quite a stir. The controversy has arisen because the publisher is continuing to take a hard line with those who are calling for negotiations, also involving the trade unions, in an attempt to resolve the problem of the jobs being jeopardised by the publisherís restructuring policy. The publisher, however, apparently does not intend to abide by union agreements or the employment contracts drawn up by the journalistsí and printersí professional representatives. In addition, the proprietor- ship situation is shrouded in mystery because the sum paid by the present publisher, Bonifaci, for the Società Editrice Romana seems to have consisted largely of money belonging to the Società Editrice Romana, in other words the company whose shares were the subject of the deal