WRITTEN QUESTION E-1308/00 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Rules for third-country shipments.
6. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 72 E/41 and that welfare would be improved if stocking densities were below that figure. The committee also concluded that the severe feed restrictions to which broiler breeders are subjected result in unacceptable welfare problems and that the welfare of breeding birds must be improved. What steps does the Commission plan to take to address the broiler health and welfare problems highlighted by the Scientific Committeeís report? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (8 June 2000) The Commissionís responsibilities towards animal protection have increased under the recent amendment of the EC Treaty which requires the European institutions and Member States to consider animal welfare a priority when drawing up agriculture, transport, single market and research policies. Article 5 of Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (1) provides for the Commission to submit to the Council any proposals which may be necessary for the uniform application of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes and, on the basis of a scientific evaluation, any recommendations made under this Convention and any other appropriate specific rules. Since the report of the scientific committee on animal health and animal welfare on the welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers) was adopted on 21 March 2000, the Commission now possesses scientific elements on which to prepare specific provisions based on Article 5 of the above mentioned directive. It is the intention of the Commission to consider the problem of the welfare of broilers in the light of the committeeís opinion. (1) OJ L 221, 8. 8. 1998. (2001/C 72 E/045) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1308/00 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission (27 April 2000) Subject: Rules for third-country shipments There are frequent problems in Italy for third-country shipments, in many cases leading to confiscation by the Italian authorities of the haulage firmsí vehicles. An administrative agreement between Italy and Germany now says that German haulage firms may bring a third-country shipment on to Italian territory if they have the appropriate bilateral permit and have previously been in transit through the home country of the vehicle concerned. But there is no such option for Austrian hauliers, making it impossible for them to complete a third-country shipment on Italian territory (with the exception of ECMT permits). Can the Commission answer the following: ü How can the administrative agreement between Italy and Germany on third-country shipments be compatible with the non-discrimination requirement of Article 1(3), first indent? ü By what date may we expect to see non-discriminatory haulage of third-country shipments throughout the EU? In other words, what agreements have been reached and how do negotiations stand on transport agreements between the EU and third countries? C 72 E/42 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 3. 2001 Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behaf of the Commission (19 June 2000) As the Honourable Member rightly points out, third-country road transport relations are still subject to bilateral authorizations when a haulier established in a Member State transports goods between two other states, with at least one of these two other states being a third country. In fact the relevant Community law, Council Regulation (EEC) No 881/92 of 26 March 1992 on access to the market in the carriage of goods by road within the Community to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States (1), expressly states that pending the conclusion of agreements between the Community and third countries the Regulation shall not affect bilateral agreements governing third country transport relations. These bilateral agreements, however, distinguish by definition between hauliers established in a state party to such an agreement and those that are established in another state. At present, there are no negotiations taking place between the Community and third countries with a view to the conclusion of road transport agreements replacing completely the bilateral agreements concluded between Member States and third countries. (1) OJ L 95, 9. 4. 1992. (2001/C 72 E/046) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1317/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (27 April 2000) Subject: Excessive use of water resources (municipalities of S. Giovanni in Persiceto and Crevalcore) In the municipalities of S. Giovanni in Persiceto and Crevalcore (province of Bologna, region of Emilia- Romagna, Italy), instances of subsidence have occurred (causing the ground level to sink by about two metres) because of the excessive use of water resources in the area by the Seabo water supply company. As a result, this part of the Bologna plain is becoming one of the most vulnerable areas of the Po Valley as regards flooding, and damage is hence being done both to the economy and to the environment. Can the Commission therefore state: ü whether in this specific case Community laws on environmental protection and citizensí safety have been breached? ü whether there any Community measures designed to prevent subsidence from occurring? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (22 June 2000) Existing legislation addresses various aspects of water quality, such as drinking water quality, bathing water quality or performance criteria for waste water treatment plants. There is however no Community water legislation addressing water quantity including abstraction or over-abstraction. The Commission therefore sees at present no legal basis to intervene. The Parliament and the Council are currently negotiating a water framework directive1. The Parliament finalised its second reading at the February 2000 plenary (1) (2) session. The Parliament/Council conciliation procedure is in progress (the time limit for concluding the procedure is 19 July 2000)