WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/99 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council. Allegations in the Mitrokhin papers about an Italian spy network working for the Soviet Union's secret services.
C 203 E/106 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 (2000/C 203 E/133) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/99 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council (9 November 1999) Subject: Allegations in the Mitrokhin papers about an Italian spy network working for the Soviet Unionís secret services The Mitrokhin papers forwarded by the British Government have revealed that a dense spy network used to operate in Italy employed by the secret services of a foreign State hostile to Italy and free Europe. It used to monitor and put pressure on the institutions of the Italian State and even reached the highest political and government levels. What steps does the Council intend to take to shed light on this affair as swiftly as possible? Will the Council bring pressure to bear on the Italian Government to ensure that all the information needed to ascertain the truth is made known and, if necessary, call on the governments of other Member States to supply any documentation connected with the revelations contained in the Mitrokhin papers? Answer (24 January 2000) The Council has no competence to deal with the questions raised by the honourable Member of the European Parliament. (2000/C 203 E/134) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1990/99 by Xaver Mayer (PPE-DE) to the Commission (28 October 1999) Subject: Situation of sheep farmers in the European Union The economic situation of sheep farming in the European Union has been characterised for some 1. time by unsatisfactory earnings. This applies to earnings from meat production, but also, and particularly, to those from wool production. Sheep stocks are steadily declining as a result. (a) Does the Commission intend to take measures aimed at improving the earnings situation with regard to meat and wool? (b) Does the Commission regard it as necessary, in particular, to promote wool as a renewable raw material? (c) What are the reasons for and against such promotion? 2. Jewish ritual slaughter of sheep and lambs on a commercial basis is prohibited in Germany. Since there is a considerable demand for such meat, however, animals are transported to neighbouring countries and undergo such slaughter there. The resulting meat is transported back to Germany. (a) Does the Commission take the view that the current ban in Germany on Jewish ritual slaughter constitutes a distortion of competition? (b) Should the regulations in this area be harmonised? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1999) It is true that the situation for sheep producers was particularly difficult in 1998, when the price for sheepmeat fell to its lowest level since 1995. However, producers have been compensated for this loss in revenue through the ewe premium, which is 50 % higher than in the 1997 marketing year. Furthermore, a supplementary premium of € 6,64 per ewe is payable to producers in less-favoured areas