WRITTEN QUESTION E-1107/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Equal opportunities in the applicant countries.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/75 (2001/C 53 E/090) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1107/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: Equal opportunities in the applicant countries How does the Commission intend to ensure that EU Directives on equal opportunities for women are implemented and enforced in full by all the applicant countries? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (18 May 2000) Enlargement of the Union is based on the fulfilment by the candidate countries of the Copenhagen criteria in the political, economic and áacquisí related fields. As regards the latter criteria, the candidate countries are obliged to harmonise their national legislation fully with the áacquis communautaireí upon their accession to the Union. This applies of course also to the Community directives on equal opportunities for women. In this context, the Commission not only monitors closely the alignment of national legislation with the áacquisí, but attaches particular importance to the effective implementation and enforcement of the Community áacquisí in the candidate countries. The Commission evaluates the progress made on a yearly basis in the regular reports. It will continue to monitor the issue closely and will report on this in the next regular report. (2001/C 53 E/091) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1109/00 by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: Level and basis for calculation of horse-breeding subsidy in the different Member States In the countries bordering on the Baltic Sea, large numbers of thoroughbred horses have been bred for a very long time. In Finland thoroughbred horse-breeding goes back 400 years, and the Finnish Thor- oughbred Association has officially been in existence for over 75 years. The breed used in all these countries is the same, the East Prussian or Trakehner horse. Alongside the Trakehners, other local breeds such as the Finnish or North Swedish horse, are often represented. The subsidy payable per horse is FIM 500 per year, whereas the subsidy for an ordinary cow is twice that amount. However, horses are at least as important as cows in preserving the traditional countryside and in engendering a positive image for rural areas, and the cost of raising horses, which are generally kept singly, tends to be higher ü owing to the marginal utility effect ü than that for cows, several of which are usually kept on the same farm. I therefore have the following questions for the Commissioner: ü Is it true that the EU pays or intends to pay subsidies in respect of thoroughbred horses on a different basis in some countries around the Baltic Sea than in others, even though these countries are united by the same conditions, breeds and history? ü Does the Commission consider ü e. g. from the point of view of managing the traditional countryside ü that there is any justification for depriving thoroughbred horse-breeding of subsidies in some Member States? ü What are the criteria for decisions on the payment of such subsidies and on what basis are decisions to grant them taken?