WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3062/98 by Lyndon HARRISON to the Commission. Standards of veterinary training in Europe
C 118/178 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 4. 1999 The fact that a peace agreement is in force in a region does not, however, mean that the necessary secure conditions are in place for the return of refugees, or that the rights of minorities are guaranteed. Despite the declared wish of most of these displaced persons to return to their homes, direct violence, administrative hurdles and the impossibility of finding accommodation make their return extremely problematic. The presence of unpunished war criminals in certain regions increases the feeling of insecurity and the apprehension of those returning. The UNHCR has stated that the decision by refugees to be repatriated or to return to regions of origin where they would now be in the minority should continue to be totally voluntary. Some Member States that regard the presence of Bosnian refugees on their territory as a burden are inclined to ignore this recommendation and speed up their rate of return. In so doing, even those who had opposed the division of Bosnia-Hercegovina on ethnic lines are now reinforcing that division by sending refugees to regions other than their own. What does the Commission intend to do to stop refugees being returned without their free consent and to persuade the Member States to stop bringing pressure to bear on refugees? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1998) The Commission is not in a position to interfere with the bilateral politics of the Member States and the decisions taken by them with regard to the return of refugees to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The return projects funded by the Commission are fully in line with the Dayton peace agreement and concentrate on the voluntary return of refugees and displaced people to their place of origin. 1998 was proclaimed the áyear of returní by the international community and the Commission launched the 1998 return programme with the main focus on integrated projects favouring the return of minority groups to their place of origin. A total of ECU 114 million was put aside for this action (of which 89 % is already committed, the remaining 11 % will be committed before end of the year). Apart from this support, the Commission has continued in 1998 its action with ECU 40 million for rehabilitation and return. (1999/C 118/228) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3062/98 by Lyndon Harrison (PSE) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: Standards of veterinary training in Europe Will the Commission agree that it is their responsibility to coordinate the monitoring of standards of veterinary training within the Member States? And is the Commission aware that at least one Member State is very concerned that the system of visitations to veterinary schools in the EU has demonstrated serious deficiencies in some schools? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (23 November 1998) This matter does not come within the Commissionís responsibilities. The Commission nonetheless welcomes initiatives from the profession for evaluating veterinary training establishments in so far as an evaluation system can help to improve training. However, participation in such schemes is entirely voluntary, and there is nothing binding about the conclusions and recommendations expressed following an inspection visit