WRITTEN QUESTION E-0798/00 by Sami Naïr (PSE) to the Commission. Commission communication on its strategic objectives 2000-20005 and work programme for the year 2000 (COM(2000) 154 final).
C 46 E/46 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 animals and the Commissionerís implication during this meeting that there is only one inspector in the Food and Veterinary Office dealing specifically with transport matters, will the Commission indicate: what additional steps it intends to take to ensure that Member States enforce the relevant legislation, and exactly how many staff will be employed to undertake this task as a specific objective? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (2 May 2000) The Commission has constantly been concerned with the welfare of animals during transport The first directive on the protection of animals during transport was adopted in 1977 (Council Directive 77/489/EC of 18 July 1977 (1)). It was replaced by Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 (2) and later amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 (3). The day by day implementation of Community rules falls under the competence of the authorities of the Member States. Article 13 of Council Directive 95/29/EC provides for the Commission to submit a report to the Council on the experience acquired by the Member States since the implementation of the Directive, possibly accompanied by proposals. The report will be presented to the Council before June 2000 taking into account all available information. The Commission will put forward proposals to amend the current legislation to ensure better enforcement in the light of the conclusions of the above-mentioned report. Three Commission veterinary experts are currently working in the Commissionís food and veterinary office (FVO), Dublin, specifically in the field of animal welfare. The missions to the Member States that they carry out include aspects of animal welfare during transport. The implementation of Council Directive 91/628/ EEC on the protection of animals during transport will continue to be given a high priority in the work of the FVO animal welfare group. In addition, welfare issues are included in missions carried out by other FVO inspectors, notably in relation to the welfare of laying hens in battery cages and at the time of slaughter. (1) OJ L 200, 8. 8. 1977. (2) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (3) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (2001/C 46 E/052) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0798/00 by Sami Naïr (PSE) to the Commission (16 March 2000) Subject: Commission communication on its strategic objectives 2000-20005 and work programme for the year 2000 (COM(2000) 154 final) 1. In its introduction the Commission speaks about modernising our social model. (a) Why does it consider that is essential to reform the Welfare State? (b) How is the Welfare State to be modernised in a way that it will remain ábased on solidarity and fair, caring and inclusive in a climate of more cautious public spendingí? 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/47 In relation to the Stability Pact, the Commission says that it is ready to present proposals to deepen 2. and broaden the scope of monitoring in the area of public finances. (a) What does it mean by deepening and widening its monitoring? (b) What measures does it envisage taking? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (13 June 2000) 1. (a) The Commission presented the reasons why it considers it necessary to modernise social protection systems in a communication dated 14 July 1999 and entitled A concerted strategy for modernising social protectioní (1). (b) Although the need for reform and the detailed arrangements vary from one Member State to another, the Commission considers that the fundamental challenges facing social protection systems are very similar in all the Member States. It would therefore be helpful to establish closer cooperation in the area of social protection, based on exchanges of experience, concertation and assessment of recent political developments with a view to identifying best practice. The Commission does not propose to advocate a single pattern of modernisation applicable to all Member States. It considers, however, that reforms should promote áa high level of employment and of social protectioní (EC Treaty, Article 2), which is one of the Communityís fundamental objectives. 2. (a) The Commission and Council are close to completing assessment of the updated stability and convergence programmes. These confirm that nearly all Member States are on course to meet the core objective of the stability and growth pact by 2002, namely to have budget balances of áclose to balance or in surplusí. This progress underlines the effectiveness of the framework, and as such the Commission has no intention to make a proposal calling for a modification of the stability and growth pact. None the less the Commission considers that there is a need for close monitoring of Member Statesí budgets. With favourable growth prospects, close attention must be paid to underlying budgetary developments to ensure that there is no pro-cyclical loosening of the budgetary stance. In addition, as budgets approach positions of balance, there will be more scope for cutting taxes. The Commission recognises the importance of reducing the tax burden in the Community, especially on labour at the lower end of the wage scale. However, the Commission and Council, when assessing proposals to cut taxes submitted in future stability and convergence programmes, must ensure that stability and growth pact commitments are always respected. Further, as called for by the recent special European Council in Lisbon, more account needs to be taken of the quality and sustainability of public finances. A start has been made on the issue of sustainability. The Commission is actively working with the Economic Policy Committee on developing comparable pension projections up to 2050. (b) The Commission has published a report on public finances in EMU (2). This provides a thorough analysis of the budget performance in 1999 and the short-term outlook for 2000. It also provides an overview assessment of medium-term targets and budget strategies contained in the updated stability and convergence programmes. Moreover, the report provides a detailed examination of the functioning of the stability and growth pact during its first year. Finally, it contains an in- depth assessment of tax systems and effective tax rates in the Community, a key element of the áqualityí of public finances. (1) COM(1999) 347 final. (2) SEC(2000) 849