WRITTEN QUESTION E-0755/00 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission. Transportation of horses from Lithuania to Italy.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/23 Within the framework of pre-accession and application of the Europe Agreements, the Commission is helping the applicant countries in their efforts to bring legislation into line with Community rules and ensuring that the Community áacquisí, including environmental protection standards, is properly adopted and implemented. The PHARE programme is a means of technical assistance and the quoted figure of € 10 million is only part of the total funding allocated for harmonising legislation. PHARE assistance now takes the shape of twinning, amongst other things, and has been supplemented by Regulations on the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA) and the administrative structures required to manage pre- accession aid (Sapard). In the veterinary field, with respect to live animals and animal products the applicant countries are required to adopt national legislation in line with Community rules (principle of adopting the Community áacquisí). The Commission is, moreover, making every effort to ensure that the CEEC authorities have sufficient capacity to apply these laws effectively. There is no provision for accepting live animals and animal products on the existing internal market under conditions other than those laid down in current Community regulations. In the plant health sector (pesticides and pesticide residues), none of the applicant countries has indicated any particular problem in adopting the Community áacquisí. (2001/C 53 E/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0755/00 by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission (13 March 2000) Subject: Transportation of horses from Lithuania to Italy It has been brought to my attention that horses transported between Lithuania and Italy are suffering unnecessarily as a consequence of the appalling conditions they are subjected to in transit. Does the Commission intend to raise this matter with the Italian and Lithuanian governments? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (28 April 2000) The Commission is aware of the suffering of imported horses originating from Central and Eastern European countries as a consequence of the conditions to which they are subject in transit. Problems also still exist in relation to the insufficient enforcement of Council Directive 91/628/EC as amended on the protection of animals during transport (1) at some Italian border inspection posts. Several veterinary inspection missions of the Commissionís Food and veterinary office (FVO) have been carried out at the Italian border inspection posts. Following the missions, detailed recommendations were submitted to the Italian authorities. The Italian authorities have planned arrangements to improve the conditions for the animals and another FVO mission is foreseen in the near future to verify these arrangements. In a recent note from the Italian authority the need for a resting period of 24 hours for imported horses that have travelled for more than 24 hours was drawn to the attention of the official veterinarians working at the border inspection posts. The Commission is nevertheless reviewing the matter with a view to possibly opening Article 226 (ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty infringement proceedings against Italy. In addition, the Commission believes that to achieve a widespread improvement in animal welfare standards it is necessary both to improve the enforcement of existing welfare legislation and to work towards an international consensus on this issue. C 53 E/24 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 In this framework the Commission has started the procedure to negotiate the participation of the Community in the revised European Convention for the protection of animals during international transport (ETS-65). This will help to ensure an acceptable level of animal welfare protection in Europe and accelerate the process of harmonisation of legislation on animal protection in the candidate countries. Furthermore the issue of long distance transport and in particular the importation of horses in the Community from Central and Eastern countries was discussed and analysed at the 7th meeting of the working group of chief veterinary officers of the associated countries which was held in Lisbon on 11-14 April 2000. (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (2001/C 53 E/028) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0775/00 by Peter Mombaur (PPE-DE) to the Commission (13 March 2000) Subject: Implementing nuclear safety programmes in Central and Eastern Europe It appears that less progress has been reached in implementing programmes to improve nuclear safety in Central and Eastern Europe and in the CIS, PHARE and TACIS than had been originally planned. To shed light on the situation, the Commission is requested to provide Parliament with an updated break-down of expenditure hitherto, with the amounts made available every year since 1996, and with a communication on the level of the appropriations approved every year by Parliament and the Council compared with actual expenditure. I should also like an explanation of the Commission proposals for organising implementation of the programme and an indication of technical and administrative responsibilities, including an assessment of how long it will take to bring the project back in line with the original timetable and plans. Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (23 May 2000) The Commission is preparing a communication to the Parliament and the Council on nuclear safety in Central Europe and the New Independent States. This communication will address the actions carried out in the period 1990-1999 by the Commission, including the status of contracting of PHARE and TACIS nuclear safety projects and will make proposals for the forthcoming periods. The communication is planned to be issued within the coming months. As the questions raised by the Honourable Member fall within the scope of the envisaged communication, it is suggested to await its transmission. As regards the question of the Honourable Member regarding proposed reorganisation of technical and administrative responsibilities in the nuclear safety field, this matter is still under internal discussion in the Commission. (2001/C 53 E/029) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0777/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (16 March 2000) Subject: VAT and labour in the vehicle repair industry Under current VAT legislation within the UK an independent vehicle repair company undertaking repairs on a customerís vehicle must charge VAT on the entire bill. In recent years, however, insurance companies have been setting up their own garages to repair their customersí cars: through this method they do not have to pay VAT on labour because the garage staff are their own employees