WRITTEN QUESTION No. 51/99 by Ursula STENZEL Leonardo - Cresson
C 341/38 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 1999 (1999/C 341/055) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0037/99 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (20 January 1999) Subject: Cat skins used for ‘educational purposes’ In Italy a catalogue advertising teaching aids for middle schools contains an advertisement for cat skins to be used for physics experiments. This has caused outrage among Italian animal-protection organizations. Teachers themselves say that the experiments can be carried out perfectly well using a woollen cloth instead of an animal skin. How ‘educational’ is it to give children who are still growing the skin of a species of animal which, in many cases, is waiting at home to play with them? According to the publisher of the catalogue - one of the most trustworthy in Italy - the cat skins are imported from Germany and presumably Germany supplies them not only for Italy. Does the Commission consider: 1. that it should sanction Germany for carrying out this cruel trade; 2. 3. that it should warn Italy and the other Member States against purchasing equipment that is evidence of cruelty against animals and, even worse, animals kept as pets; that it should remind Italy and the other countries of the Union that laws have existed for some time to protect animals and prevent them from being mistreated and killed? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (15 March 1999) The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the trade of cat skin for experimental or other purposes is not covered by any Community legislation. In the absence of Community competence applicable to this area, the Commission is unable to take any action. (1999/C 341/056) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0051/99 by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission (15 January 1999) Subject: Leonardo - Cresson The Leonardo programme is one of the EU’s most successful programmes and enables thousands of young people to gain personal experience of Europe. This programme is implicated in the recent events, with very unfortunate consequences for the EU’s credibility. The committee responsible has decided to hand over the documents to the public prosecutor’s office, with a request for an investigation into possible fraud and mismanagement. It has been alleged in this committee that the Commissioner responsible, Mrs Cresson, has prevented a revised version of the financial audit being submitted to it. Is this allegation correct, and can the Commission provide information on what this financial report contains?