WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2240/98 by Bertel HAARDER to the Commission. Staffing policy in the EU institutions
C 31/134 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 (1999/C 31/185) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2237/98 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission (10 July 1998) Subject: Hunting of goosander If in the near future the Bavarian Parliament adopts the proposal for a decision from its Environment Committee of 25 June 1998, it will soon be possible to hunt goosander again in Bavaria. According to ornithological reports there are, however, only 300 breeding pairs of this species in Bavaria. Mergus merganser appears on the Red List in Germany as a particularly endangered species. Under the provisions of Annex II of the Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) (1) the EU leaves authorization 1. to hunt goosander to the discretion of the Member States. Does the Commission consider the goosander population in Bavaria to be really large enough and the reasons for the authorization to hunt these rare birds sufficient to be able to justify this step by the Bavarian Land government? Is the Commission aware of the population trends for goosander in Germany, and in Bavaria in particular? 2. If so, what information is available and how is it assessed by the Commission? (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 July 1998) 1. According to Article 7 (3) of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds, bird species listed in its Annex II/2, which include mergus merganser, can only be hunted in those Member States in respect of which they are indicated. As this species is not indicated for Germany its hunting there could only therefore be allowed as a derogation in accordance with the conditions of Article 9 of this Directive. 2. The Commission is aware of the conservation status of mergus merganser which is considered to be favourable at the European level. However, this is not the situation in each Member State where it occurs as a breeding species and according to the published scientific literature it has decreased in Germany. The German authorities should consider this fact in any measures they take which may affect mergus merganser. (1999/C 31/186) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2240/98 by Bertel Haarder (ELDR) to the Commission (16 July 1998) Subject: Staffing policy in the EU institutions Do the four categories of EU staff have the same entry grade and step and the same career profile irrespective of whether they are employed by the Commission, Parliament or other EU institutions? What percentage of staff at the Commission information offices in the European capitals are officials, temporary staff and local staff? What is the entry grade of heads of information offices and how long on average do they occupy their posts?