WRITTEN QUESTION No. 503/99 by Susan WADDINGTON Peaceful resolution of dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia
C 348/86 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (30 March 1999) 1. and 2. Following intervention of the Commission, France confirmed that Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing has been fully implemented within its territory. However the French authorities have admitted that in certain urban areas having large Muslim populations there are inadequate slaughterhouse capacities to enable the considerable number of animals required for the celebration of Eid-el-Kébir at the time of the festival to be slaughtered in accordance with all the applicable legal requirements. A number of local authorities have, for reasons of public order and public health, found it necessary to designate certain sites outside slaughterhouses for the purpose of celebration of the festival. The Commission, taking into account the extreme sensitivity of the issue, has raised the matter within the standing veterinary committee. Most Member States have underlined that they have implemented the Directive in a way that prohibits slaughter outside the slaughterhouses. The Commission intends, however, to discuss the results in the standing veterinary committee again and then draw its conclusions. 3. The Commission has the evidence concerning celebration of the festival outside the slaughterhouses and France has not denied that in certain urban areas these celebrations take place. In these circumstances, an inspection is not considered essential for the time being. (1999/C 348/106) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0503/99 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (5 March 1999) Subject: Peaceful resolution of dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia What action is the Union taking to promote a peaceful resolution of the long running dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea? (1999/C 348/107) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0634/99 by Roberto Speciale (PSE) to the Commission (12 March 1999) Subject: Border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea The current border dispute between the Republic of Ethiopia and the State of Eritrea has already caused the death of many civilians and forced some of the population to flee. In view of the fact that the escalating violence in the area could have adverse effects on the entire region and grave consequences for the population of the entire Horn of Africa, and that a prolonged war could worsen the already harsh living conditions of the local population, the European institutions and the Eritrean and Ethiopian communities in Italy (particularly in the regions of Liguria and Lombardy) have already expressed their concern over the ongoing hostilities. Will the Commission say: 1. what political pressure has been put on the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea and what offers of mediation have been made by the EC and international organisations working in the area to put an end to the conflict as soon as possible? 2. whether the two countries have started diplomatic negotiations in order to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, as advocated by the European Parliament in its resolution on the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea (1)? (1) OJ C 210, 6. 7. 1998