WRITTEN QUESTION E-1777/99 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission. The welfare of pigs.
C 170 E/98 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 law. It was for that reason that no substantive provisions relating to it were written into the Accession Treaty. But a complaint has now been brought before the European Court of Justice alleging that the drinks tax does not conform to EU law. That is confirmed in the Advocate Generalís opinion of 1 July 1999. The Commission is asked the following questions: 1. Is the Commission in possession of documentation relating to scrutiny of the Austrian tax system, in particular the drinks tax, for compatibility with Community law? 2. What position did the Commission adopt in the years 1991 and 1992 in relation to the German drinks tax? 3. For what reasons did the Commission change its position between the early nineties and the proceedings now pending before the ECJ? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1999) 1. and 3. There has been no change in the Commissionís position in this matter. The Commission first addressed the matter in early 1998 when it requested a preliminary ruling in C-437/97. At the same time it initiated proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty (ex-Article 169) because it believed the Austrian tax to breach Community law. This procedure has now reached the stage of the reasoned opinion. Neither in 1991, 1992 nor indeed at any other time has the Commission had to adopt an official 2. position on the compatibility of Germanyís drinks tax with Community law. (2000/C 170 E/114) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1777/99 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission (11 October 1999) Subject: The welfare of pigs Article 6 of Council Directive 91/630 (1) laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs requires the Commission, by 1 October 1997, to submit to the Council a report, drawn up on the basis of an opinion from the Scientific Veterinary Committee, on intensive pig-rearing systems. Article 6 stipulates that the Commissionís report shall be accompanied by appropriate proposals which take account of the reportís conclusions. On 30 September 1997 the Scientific Veterinary Committee published its opinion which, amongst other things, condemned the use of sow stalls, i. e. stalls so narrow that the sow cannot even turn round. Will the Commission state when it intends to submit the report required by Article 6 of 91/0630/EEC? Moreover, will the Commissionís proposals take account of the Scientific Veterinary Committeeís conclu- sion that No individual pen should be used which does not allow the sow to turn around easilyí? (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 33. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1999) Council Directive 91/0630/EEC of 19 November 1991 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, provides for a report from the Commission on different aspects concerning the keeping of pigs in intensive rearing systems with particular regard to the welfare of sows reared in varying degrees of confinement and in groups. 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/99 The Commission accordingly asked the scientific veterinary committee on animal welfare to make such a report. The scientific committee adopted the report on 30 September 1997 and a copy is available on Internet at the web site of the Health and consumer protection directorate general http://europa. eu. int/ comm/dg24/health/sc/oldcomm4/out17_en. html. After the adoption of the report the Commission started to work on proposals to amend Directive 91/0630/EEC in line with the new scientific evidence and the recommendations included in the report of the scientific committee. The preparation of a proposal in this field includes the consultation with different experts from Member States, from professional organizations and from the main animal welfare associations. The Commission is also requesting from Member States information on the inspections carried out on their territory following the provisions of Article 7 paragraph 3 of Council Directive 91/0630/EC. These data will have to be taken into account for the preparation of the new proposal. It should be noted that in the meantime the standing committee of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes started the process of the revision of the recommendation on the keeping of pigs adopted in 1986. All the Member States and the Commission are parties to the Convention and are taking part in the work. The report of the Community scientific committee is actually the main basis of the preparation of the new recommendation on the keeping of pigs in the Council of Europe. Many elements of the report have been included in the draft proposal, including the keeping of sows and the provision for separate areas for the performing of different behaviour of the pigs. The next meeting of the standing committee will be held in Strasbourg during the week of 22-26 November 1999. The discussion in the standing committee of the Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, is giving the Commission important elements to prepare its own proposal of the amendment of Council Directive 91/0630/EEC, that will include the main elements on welfare protection provided by the report of the scientific committee. The draft proposal will be then submitted to the Council for approval. (2000/C 170 E/115) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1782/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (11 October 1999) Subject: Transport safety Concern has recently been expressed that insufficient attention is being given to important transport safety issues by other Commission directorates with key responsibilities, for example DG III which is responsible for vehicle safety legislative standards and DG XIII which runs the telematics research programme. What steps can the new Commission take to ensure that transport safety is given adequate attention in these matters and that the appropriate coordination is taking place between all directorates? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1999) The Commission has added security standards concerning frontal and side impact that are among the most ambitious in the world to the technical rules on vehicle safety, with regard to which it has exclusive powers. The Commission is also poised to put forward a Directive aimed at reducing the consequences of accidents involving pedestrians which has no equivalent in any other country. The Communityís telematics research programmes are helping to build up a body of high-value knowledge and skills which should enable the Community and its Member States to adopt a transport safety policy that is rooted in scientific bases and solid technologies