WRITTEN QUESTION E-0601/00 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Transport of horses.
C 89 E/2 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 3. 2001 (2001/C 89 E/002) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0601/00 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission (3 March 2000) Subject: Transport of horses On 17 December 1999, Office 3 of the Food, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Department of the Italian Ministry of Public Health sent a directive (Note No 600/3/SA. 21/7640) to all regional veterinary offices and authorities concerning the transport of horses from third countries involving a journey in excess of 24 hours. The note stipulates that the horses must be kept in the stables of the frontier inspection posts (FIPs) for a certain amount of time so that they may regain enough strength to continue their journey to the final destination. The criteria for the approval of staging points are laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 (1). The Fernetti-Prosecco (Trieste) border crossing point has been approved as a staging point, and yet Gorizia has not, despite the fact that, according to ISTAT (Italian Statistical Office), most of the 130 000 horses that are imported for slaughter in Italy each year enter the country via the Gorizia border crossing point. Can the Commission say whether Gorizia has been exempted from the legislation on staging points? In the light of the views expressed by the above department following a Community veterinary inspection in July 1999, should the Commission not also call on the Italian authorities to extend the staging post requirement of the note to cover all other animal species imported from third countries? Lastly, what action does the Commission intend to take to increase the number of staging points that have so far been authorised? (1) OJ L 174, 2. 7. 1997, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (5 May 2000) Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC on the protection of animals during transport (1) lays down the requirements concerning transport time, resting period, feeding and drinking of the animals during transport. The Community criteria to be met by staging points, where animals have to be unloaded and rested for at least 24 hours during the journey, are defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 concerning Community criteria for staging points and amending the route plan referred to in Annex to Directive 91/ 628/EEC (2). Any natural or legal person can set up staging points in the territory of the Community. Member States shall ensure that staging points are officially approved and fulfil the requirements laid down in the Regulation. The Commission is not responsible for deciding where staging points have to be set up or for the number in each Member State. The Member States shall notify the Commission of the list of approved staging points and any updates. The Commission presents this information to other Member States in the framework of the standing veterinary committee. The updated list of staging points is available on the web site of the Commission at the following address: //forum. europa. eu. int/Public/irc/dg6/vets/info/data. Concerning the inspection of the animals imported from third countries and their resting at the border inspection post of Gorizia, it should be noted that as provided by Directive 91/628/EEC, once the animals have reached the Community frontiers the authorities of Member States have to take any necessary steps to ensure the proper enforcement of Community legislation in the field of protection during transport and no animal shall be allowed to continue to travel if its condition is not found satisfactory after inspection by a veterinarian. Each animal found not fit to continue the journey has to be rested, watered and fed and can only be transported further when the veterinarian certifies its ability to continue the journey. 20. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 89 E/3 In the last five years five veterinary inspection missions of the Commissionís food and veterinary office (FVO) have been carried out at the Italian border inspection post of Gorizia to monitor the proper enforcement of Directive 91/628/EEC. Based on the outcome of the missions the Commission has intervened with the Italian authorities on a number of occasions concerning the inadequate enforcement of Italian legislation transposing the requirements of Council Directive 91/628/EEC and in particular requesting the proper resting of the animals at the border inspection posts. The FVO reports have recommended for animals, which have already been travelling for more than the prescibed times, to be rested for 24 hours when they cross the border. Concerning the note from the Italian authorities mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission is hoping that it will constitute an improvement for the activity related to the protection of animals transported on long distance journeys. The Commission will continue to monitor the proper enforcement of Community legislation in this field by the Italian authorities at the border inspection post of Gorizia. (1) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (2) OJ L 174, 2. 7. 1997. (2001/C 89 E/003) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0875/00 by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (22 March 2000) Subject: Embargo against Iraq and the price of oil In the last 12 months the price of refined petroleum products in Europe has risen sharply (by 21 % in Italy) and in the last few days the price of crude oil on the New York stock exchange rose to more than USD 32 a barrel. This worrying rise in the price of fuel and petroleum by-products is solely due to reductions in the amount put onto the market by the OPEC countries. At the same time we are witnessing the suffering caused in Iraq by an embargo which continues to penalise the weakest sections of the population (the World Health Organisation announced back in 1996 that the sanctions had directly caused the deaths of more than one million people, including half a million children). Does the Commission not consider that an embargo which penalises only the weakest sections of the population is a violation of the most basic human rights? Does the Commission not consider that it must take steps to persuade the United Nations to review the embargo against Iraq as a matter of urgency? Does it not consider that if Iraq resumes marketing crude oil the OPEC countries may revise their intransigent position? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (10 May 2000) In order to soften the impact on ordinary Iraqi citizens of the sanction regime imposed on their country since 1990, the Community as the major donor of humanitarian assistance has provided € 250 million during the 1991-1999 period. Several Member States have also provided large aid contributions within bilateral frameworks. With the oil-for-food facility in place in 1997, humanitarian needs were expected to be met without resource to outside assistance. However, largely due to a lack of cooperation from the Iraqi authorities, the implementation of this facility has been slow. It cannot compensate for the erosion of the countryís basic infrastructures and the subsequent worsening of the economic and humanitarian situation, which in particular is affecting the most vulnerable segment of the population. Up to now, only about a quarter of the funds from the facility has been effectively allocated to humanitarian assistance reaching the final beneficiaries