WRITTEN QUESTION P-0261/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. Slaughter of animals at Eid-el-Kabir.
C 280 E/204 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 The booklet was developed after repeated requests from teachers for simple factual material about the Community and its Member States, for teaching purposes and in line with national curriculum require- ments. In anticipation of demand, one million copies were printed. Since publication in June 1998, 460 000 copies of the booklet have been requested by primary school teachers, public libraries, local education authorities and European resource centres for schools in the United Kingdom. Orders continue to be received on a regular basis for several thousand copies a month. (2000/C 280 E/240) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0257/00 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 February 2000) Subject: Intergovernmental Conference Can the Commission list those areas where it would like to see an extension of qualified majority voting at the next Intergovernmental Conference? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (23 February 2000) As it made clear in its Opinion adopted on 26 January 2000 (1), the Commission believes that, apart from cases where the Council decides by simple majority, decision-making by qualified majority should be the general rule in the Council, and insistence on unanimity the exception. In Annex 1 to the Opinion the Commission listed the provisions of the EC Treaty that might remain subject to unanimity on the grounds that serious and lasting reasons justify departing from the general rule. Annex 2 to the Opinion lists the provisions of the EC Treaty which would then be subject to qualified majority voting in the Council. (1) Adapting the institutions to make a success of enlargement. Commission Opinion in accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union on the calling of a Conference of Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to amend the Treaties ü COM(00) 34 final. (2000/C 280 E/241) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0261/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (2 February 2000) Subject: Slaughter of animals at Eid-el-Kabir Each year tens of thousands of sheep are religiously slaughtered outdoors in France at the Eid-el-Kabir festival. This is in breach of Council Directive 93/119/EC (1) on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing, which specifically prohibits outdoor religious slaughter. Film footage supplied to the Commission by animal welfare organisation shows not only that the slaughter takes place outdoors but also that the sheep are often roughly and cruelly treated prior to slaughter. They are dragged by one front leg, carried upside down, carted in wheelbarrows and often have their front and back legs tied together. All this is in breach of Article 3 of Council Directive 93/119. What steps does the Commission propose to take to ensure that EU law is observed at this yearís Eid-el-Kabir festival? Does the Commission intend to issue infringement proceedings against France under Article 226 in respect of its failure to enforce Council Directive 93/119 in its territory? (1) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993, p. 21. 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?