WRITTEN QUESTION E-1063/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Id al-Kabir festival ‐ violation of EU directives and French legislation.
C 374 E/204 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (15 May 2000) As the Commission indicated in its reply to the Honourable Memberís Written Question P-0555/00 (1), the issue raised by the Honourable Member is the responsibility of the Danish authorities provided that Danish legislation, if amended, guarantees that Article 7 of Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (2) is respected. legislation in Member States often From a general point of view, differentiates between the rights and obligations of individuals on various grounds. However, provided that the differentiation is not made on grounds which violate Community law, the reasonableness of such provisions must be assessed at national level. it may, however, be stated that (1) OJ C 303 E, 24. 10. 2000. (2) OJ L 307, 13. 12. 1993. (2000/C 374 E/241) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1063/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (4 April 2000) Subject: The Id al-Kabir festival ü violation of EU directives and French legislation The Commission is doubtless aware of the fact that the religious slaughter of sheep at the annual Id al-Kabir festival near Paris is brutal and illegal. It is a blatant violation of French law and also of Council Directive 93/119 EC (1) which specifically forbids the religious slaughter of animals in the open air. To make matters worse, the animals are often appallingly treated before being slaughtered, which is a violation of Article 3 of Directive 93/119 EC. 1. Why has the Commission as the guardian of the European Treaties and legislation so far failed to act in this matter? 2. When does it Article 226) owing to its failure to implement Directive 93/119 EC? intend to initiate proceedings against France for violating the Treaties (under (1) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993, p. 21. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (11 May 2000) Member States are responsible for the enforcement of Community legislation concerning the slaughter and killing of animals in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993, on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing. The Commission is informed about the treatment of animals during this event. The inadequate slaughter- house capacity in certain urban areas of France appears to be one of the reasons for the observations made with regard to the treatment of animals during the festival. The Commission considers that the French authorities must find a practical solution for the problem concerning slaughterhouse capacity. On the other hand, treatment of animals which causes suffering during restraint and slaughter is not acceptable. The French authorities have been contacted concerning the need to improve the arrangements. On this occasion, reassurances were received prior to the festival that the French authorities were taking a wide range of measures including close contacts with the different Islamic religious and cultural groups to involve them more widely in discussions on this issue in order to improve the situation with the view to achieve better animal welfare and hygiene conditions. 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/205 Now that the festival has passed a formal report is awaited from the French authorities, before the Commission takes, if necessary, further initiatives including the opening of proceedings under Article 226 (ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty. (2000/C 374 E/242) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1066/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (4 April 2000) Subject: Microcredit Microcredit is an organisation that loans small amounts of money (principally) to women so as to enable them to set up a business of their own with a view to their becoming financially independent. Could the Commission please indicate what funds the EU has allocated for the expansion of Microcredit? Could it also stipulate what measures it has taken to ensure that the money does eventually reach those that are most in need of it? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (18 May 2000) An indication of the funds allocated specifically to microcredit expansion, separately for example from the amounts devoted to training for candidate entrepreneurs, is unfortunately not available without extensive research through the intermediaries carrying out the programmes mentioned in the Member States. However, a number of actions undertaken by the Commission involve the use and promotion of micro- credit activities. Those actions are, in large measure, designed to facilitate the access to business start-up finance for small entrepreneurs without sufficient own resources or means of qualifying for access to finance on normal commercial terms, for example, from banks. Some actions have been undertaken under the European social fund (ESF) programmes. For example, the pilot action local social capital under Article 6 of the ESF is currently experimenting in 31 different areas of the Community the use of small grants to support social cohesion and micro-firm creation projects. During the programming period 1994-1999, Community initiative Employment-NOW (New opportunities for women) has supported a great deal of projects favouring access to finance, particularly offering training. Around one third of its actions are directed towards business creation. With a view to the mainstreaming of the local social capital pilot project, Regulation (EC) No 1262/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 21 June 1999 on the European social fund (1) has provided that a reasonable amount of the Fund appropriations within Objectives 1 and 3 shall be available in the form of small grants. In addition, the Regulation also provides that the Fund shall support activities to promoting entrepreneurship in general (Article 2. 1. d) as well as improving womenís access to business start-ups (Article 2. 1. e). Although the programming of the period 2000-2006 is not sufficiently advanced to provide concrete figures, it is very likely that there will be increased support for women entrepreneurs during that period. It is important to note that the above actions have not been financed by direct transfer of funds from the Commission to the final beneficiary. The actions are co-financed by the Member States, and money is paid out through intermediaries at a local level. Community funds are transferred in full respect for the principle of subsidiarity, which constitutes a major element of financial security for this type of operation, where local detailed knowledge of the beneficiaries and their needs is crucial to ensure that assistance is well targeted and not misdirected. (1) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999