WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1174/98 by Ulf HOLM to the Council. Transport of animals
18. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 13/23 A brochure on the LIFE environment projects will shortly be published, together with a description of the most successful projects. A multilingual brochure on LIFE nature projects is published annually, together with a description of all of the projects receiving money. A copy of the 1997 edition has been sent to the Honourable Members and to the Secretariat General of Parliament. (1) OJ C 68, 4. 3. 1998. (1999/C 13/032) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1173/98 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Conversion aid Can the Commission clarify what amounts are earmarked in the budget for aid to farmers wishing to stop growing tobacco and convert to an alternative crop? Have the funds for this budget item increased or decreased over the last three years? Will the Commission be proposing an increase or a decrease in the forthcoming budget? Can the Commission also say what the take-up rate is for these conversion aids? Does the take-up rate differ among the various Member States? Which are the most common alternative crops chosen? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 May 1998) The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the current organisation of the market in raw tobacco makes no provision for Community aid for producers who want to stop growing tobacco in favour of some other crop. As part of the reform of the raw tobacco market that it submitted recently to Parliament and the Council (1), the Commission proposes setting up a system under which the public authorities will buy back the quotas of producers wishing to abandon tobacco cultivation. (1) COM(98) 19 final. (1999/C 13/033) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/98 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Council (23 April 1998) Subject: Transport of animals EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in December 1997 reportedly agreed on a compromise over detailed rules for long-distance transport of animals. It has proved difficult, however, to ascertain the precise implications of the new rules. Nevertheless, the media have reported that the new detailed rules are too lax and will not improve the situation of the animals, particularly in regard to ventilation. Can the Council clarify the new rules and say in what way they will make the transport of animals less cruel and barbaric?