Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine'
27. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 235/59 Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra- Community trade in bovine animals and swine’ (1) (98/C 235/13) On 9 March 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal. The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 May 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Pricolo. At its 355th plenary session (meeting of 27 May 1998), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 106 votes to four, with five abstentions. 1. Foreword mittee procedure) responsible for devising implementing rules for the operation of the computer databases. 1. 1. The BSE crisis caused widespread alarm and sapped consumer confidence in beef and beef products. The Community was quick to devise a legislative response, and in April 1997 the Council adopted Direc- tive 97/12/EC. This directive updated Directive 64/432/EEC by setting up a computerized database on bovine animals and swine and their movements. 1. 2. In tandem with the adoption of Direc- tive 97/12/EC, on 21 April 1997 the Council approved Regulation (EC) No 820/97 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products. 1. 3. The aim of these instruments was twofold: firstly, to enable Member States quickly and effectively to exchange information on the identity of animals, their movements and the farms concerned; secondly, to introduce ear-tags and animal passports as a way of tracing the farms or other establishments through which the animal had passed. 1. 4. It should be noted that the two instruments, which are closely interlinked, form part of the machinery enabling appropriate communication between the farm- er and the database, and full use of the base itself. 2. The Commission proposals The Commission’s proposed amendment makes 2. 1. the Standing Veterinary Committee (Commission/Com- (1) OJ C 100, 2. 4. 1998, p. 23. 2. 2. The proposal thus concerns procedural rather than substantive changes, designed to involve one of the Commission’s advisory bodies in the administration of this area. 3. Comments 3. 1. The Committee notes that one year after the adoption of Directive 97/12/EC and Regulation (EC) No 820/97, the computer database giving an animal’s identity, farm and movements is obviously not yet operative. The fact that the Commission is now proposing 3. 2. the establishment of implementing rules for the computer database on bovine animals and swine leads the Com- mittee to think that Community rules in this field have not been properly applied hitherto. 3. 3. This delay casts doubt on the credibility of the Community and/or national authorities and hardly helps to restore consumer confidence. 3. 4. The Committee asks the Commission to present a progress report on EU-wide implementation of both Directive 97/12/EC and Regulation (EC) No 820/97. 3. 4. 1. The Committee also asks that interested parties be guaranteed appropriate access to the computerized data network. Here the Committee is thinking of farmers’, traders’ and consumer organizations which have a special interest recognized by their Member State. 3. 5. Nevertheless, given that the computerized system has not yet been properly implemented, the Committee supports the Commission proposal on the grounds that C 235/60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 27. 7. 98 the overriding concern remains the protection of public health. 3. 5. 1. However, the Committee deeply regrets that the Community rules on health problems in intra- Community trade in bovine animals have not been fully implemented, and again calls on the Commission to draw up the report mentioned in 3. 4 above and submit it to the other EU institutions. Brussels, 27 May 1998. The President of the Economic and Social Committee Tom JENKINS Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Decision on the Community Statistical Programme 1998-2002’ (98/C 235/14) On 31 March 1998 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal. The Section for Economic, Financial and Monetary Questions, which was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 May 1998. The rapporteur was Mr Vasco Cal. At its 355th plenary session held on 27 and 28 May 1998 (meeting of 27 May), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 118 votes for, none against and with five abstentions. 1. Introduction 1. 1. The Commission is presenting its fifth five-year programme prepared by Eurostat. The programme will be the subject of a Council Decision in accordance with Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community statistics. Regulation (EC) No 322/97 stipulates that the Community should have timely access to statistical information which is comparable between the Member States and is up-to-date, reliable, relevant and produced as efficiently as possible for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of its poli- cies. 1. 2. Regulation (EC) No 322/97 also stipulates that the Community’s statistical programme must define the ‘approaches, the main fields and the objectives of the actions envisaged for a period not exceeding five years’. The Commission continues this policy in its present programme by setting itself the objective of ‘providing the European Union with a high-quality statistical information service’, and rising to three challenges, viz. : meeting the needs of Community policies, improving cooperation between Eurostat and national statistical services (which together form the Community Statistical Service (CSS), and fixing priorities. The Commission identifies four categories of 1. 3. priorities: — policy priorities of the Community; — major statistical or infrastructure projects; — evolutionary maintenance of systems supporting existing policy needs; — other statistical indicators required. The programme will cost between EURO 83 and 1. 4. 95 million per year. The programme spells out proposed action in 1. 5. the following key areas: — Free movement of goods; — Agriculture; — Free movement of persons, services and capital;