WRITTEN QUESTION E-0905/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Council. Alteration of the cultural heritage in FYROM.
C 26 E/128 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (10 April 2000) 1. To solve the structural problems of Italian citrus-fruit growing, Community legislation envisages two types of measure: operational programmes run by producer organisations as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1), and schemes forming part of rural development as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/99 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (2). 2. The Commission feels that the introduction of aid per hectare is not the right way to go in the Community citrus-fruit sector. Aid of this kind does not encourage the conversion to new varieties which is necessary to keep up with trends in demand. Furthermore, area aid is only worth considering if it applies to all land under cultivation, including areas growing fruit for the fresh-fruit market. (1) OJ L 297, 21. 11. 1996. (2) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2001/C 26 E/158) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0905/00 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Council Subject: Alteration of the cultural heritage in FYROM (24 March 2000) Extensive alterations have reportedly been made recently to the architecture of the Church of Ayios Dimitrios in the town of Bitola (Monastir) in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which clearly constitute alteration of the cultural heritage of that historical monument and of the region in general. Will the Council say whether it is aware of this situation, what steps it intends to take to put an immediate end to these actions, and whether it has taken or intends to take any measures to protect the historical monuments and the cultural heritage in general in the Balkans? Reply (26 June 2000) The Council would point out that on 24 January 2000 it issued negotiating directives to the Commission for the negotiation of a stabilisation and association Agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. These directives foresee that the future Agreement would contain provisions on cultural cooperation and in particular the conservation and restoration of monuments and cites. (2001/C 26 E/159) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0909/00 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission (25 March 2000) Subject: Subsidies under the CAP for cruelty to animals The Commissionís answer to Question E-0039/00 (1) states that bovine animals are castrated at a very early age (in order to minimise their suffering). However, according to specialised literature (Compassion in World Farming Trust, For their own good ü a study of farm animal mutilationsí, October 1994, p. 18) quoting Robertson et al, 1994, any method of castration causes severe pain, irrespective of the animalís age (the test covered animals 6, 21 and 42 days old)