WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2360/98 by Maartje van PUTTEN to the Commission. Emissions of greenhouse gases from cattle farming
5. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 31/141 (1999/C 31/196) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2358/98 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (27 July 1998) Subject: Presidential elections in Togo Following the visit to Togo by observers from the EU, the EU Presidency expressed deep concerns about the legitimacy of the Presidential elections held in that country. As the European Union has serious doubts about the credibility of the election results announced by the Togolese Minister of the Interior on 24 June, what action is the Commission taking to ensure democracy in Togo? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (15 September 1998) Following the EU statement of 26 June 1998 that it seriously doubted the credibility of the election results announced on 24 June 1998 by the Togolese Minister of the Interior, the Commission proposed that the Council invite Togo to hold consultations under Article 366a of the revised LomØ Convention to assess the situation in detail and, if necessary, to remedy it. Such consultations may be requested where a party to the LomØ Convention considers that another party has failed to fulfil an obligation in respect of one of the essential elements referred to in Article 5, in this case a failure to respect human rights or democratic principles and the rule of law. An invitation to such consultations, signed by the President of the Council and by the Commission was addressed to Togo on 13 July 1998. The consultations began on 30 July 1998. By initiating the procedure provided for in Article 366a of the Convention, the Union has shown the importance it attaches to the essential elements (Article 5) which are the basis of its relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The objective of the consultations is not to suspend cooperation, but to engage in real, in- depth dialogue to help find a way to restore the rule of law and respect for democratic principles. If, despite all efforts, no solution has been found by the end of the consultations, the party which invoked the failure to fulfil an obligation may take appropriate measures including, if necessary, the partial or total suspension of the application of the Convention. (1999/C 31/197) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2360/98 by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission (27 July 1998) Subject: Emissions of greenhouse gases from cattle farming 1. Does the Commission have any data on emissions of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances from cattle farms, in particular emissions of laughing gas (N20), and can it say to what extent laughing gas produced by cattle farms is contributing to the greenhouse effect and depletion of the ozone layer? If not, does it plan to investigate this matter in the future? Has the Commission already taken action to reduce laughing gas emissions from cattle farms? If so, what 2. action? If not, does it plan to do so in the future? 3. What are the Commissionís views on the possibility of making cattle farming more extensive given the positive effect that such a policy might have on greenhouse gas emissions and the Unionís plans, as set out in the Fifth action programme on the environment, to take the environment into account in other policy areas? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1998) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible