WRITTEN QUESTION E-2262/99 by Ward Beysen (ELDR) to the Commission. Directive 96/92.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/159 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (10 January 2000) The Commission is very concerned about the welfare of animals and gives it a high priority. Community rules exist in respect of the protection of horses when they are kept for farming purposes, during transport and at the time of slaughtering. In accordance with the new protocol on the protection of animal welfare annexed to the EC Treaty, the Community and Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals in formulating and implementing the Communityís agriculture, transport, internal market and research policies. On the other hand, and in particular with reference to animal welfare, Community competence does not at present extend to the use of horses in historic and traditional events within a Member State, and as a consequence, this is a matter within the sole jurisdiction of the Member State concerned. (2000/C 203 E/205) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2262/99 by Ward Beysen (ELDR) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: Directive 96/92 The liberalisation of energy markets is producing a wave of concentration, and the first international mergers or take-overs have already been announced. What is the Commissionís view of these develop- ments, and to what extent is account being taken of their implications for employment? Directive 96/92 (1) lays down basic principles concerning the liberalisation of the European electricity market, seeking to ensure that, from the point of view of economic operators, this process takes place on equal terms in the various Member States. The Commissionís second harmonisation report summarises aspects which remain to be dealt with in order to ensure such equivalent liberalisation, but does not mention the distortion of competition by the various ownership structures of electricity companies in the European Union. In view of the differences in the capital costs of private companies quoted on stock exchanges and public enterprises, private enterprise increasingly faces unequal competitive conditions, both when acquiring new businesses and when directly offering products and services on the market. How will the Commission correct this distortion? (1) OJ L 27, 30. 1. 1997, p. 20. Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (21 December 1999) As the Honourable Member rightly points out, the Commission has to make sure that liberalisation is carried out whilst taking into account legitimate concerns about employment prospects in the electricity industry. It is clear that restructuring will take place, but it is clear as well, that there is a pressing need to introduce competition into this sector. The liberalisation process increases competitiveness of Community industry, and will thus have a positive impact on employment in energy intensive industries. Furthermore, it provides positive benefits to individual citizens. According to the preliminary results of a study just received by the Commission, electricity prices for households between 1996-1998 fell just as quickly as industrial prices. Member States have the primary responsibility in the field of employment, but the Commission acknowl- edges the need for it to play a leading role in this respect and has launched a study on this subject. The objective of the study is not to measure the quantitative effects on employment in the electricity industry. This is impossible taking account of the growth in employment in the energy intensive industries as a result of lower electricity prices, and would provide a distorted picture. The objective is however to disseminate and learn from experiences in countries where liberalisation of the electricity industry has already taken place and to guide Member States as to retraining of workers, creation of new employment in new sectors within the electricity industry, description of job profiles most at risk and good ways of C 203 E/160 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 redeployment. The first results of the study are expected by the beginning of 2000. The Commission will communicate these immediately to the Member States and determine what follow-up action will be necessary. As for the question of possible unequal starting positions of competing companies due to the fact that some are state owned, whereas others are privately owned, the Commission will actively monitor the behaviour of competitors in the electricity industry, as it does in other industries. The Commissionís role is to ensure that state owned companies ü or any company for that matter ü do not have undue advantages, for instance because of state aid that is not available for other companies. The Commission examines mergers and acquisitions and other dealing on the competitive market in this light. (2000/C 203 E/206) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2265/99 by Ari Vatanen (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Article 141 of Finlandís accession treaty In Article 141 of Finlandís accession treaty it is stated that, where serious difficulties remain resulting from Finlandís accession, the Commission may authorise Finland to grant direct national aid. During the five-year transition period, Finland has been able to pay transitional aid. At the end of 1999 the transitional period will come to an end and the payment of this aid will cease. It has been calculated that if compensatory aid is not paid, the incomes of farmers raising livestock and growing greenhouse produce and open-air vegetables in southern Finland will fall immediately by between 30 % and 90 %. In the conclusions of the Luxembourg summit in 1997 it was stated that agricultural production should be possible throughout the territory of the EU, even in unfavourable conditions. If the payment of the aid under Article 141 is discontinued, the aid gap between southern Finland and the rest of the country will grow to intolerable levels. This would also undermine the credibility of the EU, particularly in the eyes of farmers. What measures does the Commission propose to take to ensure that this aid pursuant to Finlandís accession treaty can continue to be paid? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 December 1999) The Commission is examining a report which has been presented by Finland on the difficulties facing agriculture in Southern Finland, together with a notification in accordance with Article 143 of the Act of Accession and Article 88 (ex-Article 93) of the EC Treaty of a national aid programme under Article 141 of the Act of Accession. Once this examination is complete, the Commission will take the appropriate measures. (2000/C 203 E/207) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2266/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Expulsion of the Greek section from the MØdecins sans FrontiŁresí NGO The Greek section of the MØdecins sans FrontiŁresí NGO was recently expelled on the grounds that it helped both sides involved in the Kosovo crisis without permission. This has prompted serious concern about the implementation of the principle that urgent humanitarian aid should be distributed to a population in distress without ethnic or religious discrimination ü a principle that the European Union itself subscribes to. Given that the activities and programmes of MØdecins sans FrontiŁresí are funded largely by the European Union