WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1800/98 by Friedhelm FRISCHENSCHLAGER to the Commission. Export premiums - transport of live animals
5. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 31/83 (1999/C 31/110) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1800/98 by Friedhelm Frischenschlager (ELDR) to the Commission Subject: Export premiums › transport of live animals (11 June 1998) 1. When will Commissioner Fischler propose to the Council of Ministers the abolition: a) of the export premium on the transport of live animals b) of the calf processing premium (for the slaughter of newborn calves in order to avoid beef surpluses), as he has already promised to do in the media? 2. Does the Commission expect these proposals to be approved, and if so, when? If not, which countries are known by the Commission to oppose these reforms and what are their reasons for 3. rejecting them? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1998) The Community does not subsidise the transport of live cattle but it grants export refunds for exports of 1. cattle and beef. There is no proposal to abolish the export refunds for cattle. As expressed in the media, the Commission is of the opinion that in the long run it is not acceptable to solve the problem of over-production by slaughtering young calves a few days after birth. This is one of the reasons which lead the Commission to present in Agenda 2000 (1) its proposals for the beef sector in which the calf processing premium is no longer foreseen (2). Furthermore, in December 1997, the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) 2502/97 of 15 December 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) 3886/92 laying down detailed rules for the application of the premium schemes for beef and veal (3) stipulating that the eligibility to the calf processing premium shall be subject to compliance with the Community rules on the protection of animals during transport. 2 and 3. On 18 December 1997 the Council unanimously adopted Regulation (EC) 2634/97 of 18 December 1997 amending Regulation (EEC) 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (4) stipulating that in the case of exports of live animals, the payment of the export refund shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of Community legislation concerning animal welfare and, in particular, the protection of animals during transport. The Parliament gave its opinion on this Regulation generally supportive of the Commission proposal. On 17 February 1998 the trade mechanisms management committee gave a favourable opinion to Commission Regulation (EC) 615/98 of 18 March 1998, laying down specific detailed rules of application for the export refund arrangements as regards the welfare of live bovine animals during transport (5). The Agriculture Council in October 1996 required Member States, for a period of two years beginning on 1 December 1996, to implement at least one of the two premium schemes, the calf processing premium or the early marketing premium. Thus, as from 1 December 1998, the application of the processing premium becomes optional to Member States, as it was until December 1996. In this respect, until now, no Member State has indicated to the Commission what will be their decision. (1) COM(97) 2000 final. (2) OJ C 170, 4. 6. 1998. (3) OJ L 345, 16. 12. 1997. (4) OJ L 356, 31. 12. 1997. (5) OJ L 82, 19. 3. 1998