WRITTEN QUESTION E-2815/99 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission. The question of the Roma.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/137 Does it plan to propose a radical change in policy whereby trade in meat and carcasses would take 4. the place of the long-distance transport of live farm animals? In this regard, it should be noted that the protocol defines animals as sentient beings and not as goods. Clearly, therefore, live animals should no longer be subject to Community rules on free trade in goods. (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 33. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (23 February 2000) The Protocol in question recognises that animals are sentient beings and since its adoption the Com- mission has focused increasingly on accommodating the animal protection dimension in its policies. In the year 2000 it intends to present far-reaching proposals concerning animal welfare in the field of pig breeding and animal transport. Notably, it will present a proposal concerning the protection of pigs in intensive rearing systems with a view to amending Council Directive 91/630/EEC of 19 November 1991 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs. The Commissionís project may include provisions mandating the keeping of sows in groups and the establishment of distinct areas in which they can behave naturally. The Commission may propose applying these measures as soon as possible in the case of future holdings. The time limit for imposing the rules on existing farms will be discussed by the experts, who will notably have to consider the socio-economic consequences. Community legislation on animal protection during transport is based on the results of scientific research and practical experience, both of which indicate that, provided certain animal protection requirements are met, the transport of animals is feasible. However, Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Directive 95/29/EEC of 29 June 1995 on the protection of animals during transport (1) needs to be reappraised on the basis of more recent information. The Standing Veterinary Committee recently appointed a working party to study certain difficulties in applying this Directive. It is possible that the Commission may draft an amendment to existing Community legislation during the year 2000 on the basis of the working partyís conclusions. Besides, the Commission is preparing a project based on the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Animal Welfare, laying down standards for the mechanical ventilation of animal transport vehicles. This proposal is scheduled for the first half of the year 2000. (1) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (2000/C 280 E/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2815/99 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: The question of the Roma 1. In the context of enlargement the Commission is rightly giving priority to the question of better treatment of the Roma in a number of applicant countries. Would the Commission state precisely which problems need to be addressed? C 280 E/138 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Does it have an overview of the measures that have been taken in these countries to improve the 2. situation of the Roma minority? In what way is the EU involved in these? 3. The above question is not intended to refer only to improved legislation but also to measures aimed at an integrated approach; education, information and awareness-raising measures, etc. Does the Com- mission have any knowledge of measures of this kind? 4. Is there any question of exchanges between the countries concerned? Do cooperation projects between these countries exist? Is the expertise of EU Member States in this area being used in this connection? Does the Commission have any facts about problems relating to Roma resident in the present EU 5. Member States? 6. 7. 8. 9. Has the Commission formulated precise objectives to be achieved by the applicant countries? Is it also prepared to invest in problems to improve the situation of the Roma itself? Is it working together with the Council of Europe? Do the Roma play a role in relations with the Ukraine and Moldavia? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (7 February 2000) 1. Of the applicant countries currently in accession negotiations with the Community, there are Roma minorities in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The most significant problems faced by the Roma population are discrimination, poor housing conditions and health standards, high levels of unemployment, low levels of education and segregation of Roma children within the school system. In its composite paper of October 1999 (1), reporting on progress towards accession by the 2. and 3. applicant countries, the Commission states that áwhile there have been encouraging developments in some of the candidate countries with the adoption of special programmes aimed at improving the situation of the Roma, a concerted effort is still required to ensure that these programmes are actually implementedí. The Commission closely monitors the initiatives by the applicant countries to improve the Roma situation and reviews in its regular reports the concrete progress made by each of the applicant countries. 4. The applicant countries as well as the Member States participate and exchange expertise in the Council of Europeís Roma expert group and in other international fora dedicated to the Roma issue. The Commission is not aware of any current co-operation projects on Roma issues between the applicant countries. 5. The situation of Roma minorities in the Member States is monitored by the Council of Europe. 6. The Copenhagen criteria state that Membership requires that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing [inter alia] human rights and respect for and protection of minorities [ ]í. The situation of the Roma is therefore taken into consideration in assessing the capacity of applicant countries to become members of the Union. The accession partnerships for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, in December 1999 (2), stipulate concrete Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, adopted by the Council measures for the further integration of Roma as a short-term priority. 7. The Phare programme is the main channel of Community support for Roma populations in the applicant countries. In 1998, around € 3 million were committed under Phare to projects in support of the Roma communities in the five most concerned countries of central and eastern Europe. This figure reached € 10 million in 1999. In addition, the European initiative for democracy and human rights, which is also managed by the Commission, provides support to the Roma in the candidate countries notably through projects presented by non-governmental organisations. Projects for Roma are also supported within the Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes. The brochure EU support for Roma communities in central 3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/139 and eastern Europeí is forwarded direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat General of the Parliament. Further details are available on the website: http://europa. eu. int/comm/dgs/enlargement/ index. htm. The Commission participates in the Council of Europeís Roma expert group, which meets bi- 8. annually. In 1999, an agreement was signed with the Council of Europe in order to promote close co- operation between the European monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia and the Commission against racism and intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe. In this context, joint programmes have been proposed on the situation of the Roma in Europe. 9. The situation of the Roma minority is taken into account in the relations with Ukraine and Moldova and the Commission has supported programmes aimed at improving the situation of the Roma population in these countries. (1) COM(99) 500 final. (2) COM(99) 531 final, COM(99) 530 final, COM(99) 525 final, COM(99) 521 final. (2000/C 280 E/150) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2824/99 by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Transport of large quantities of dangerous waste from Hungary into EU countries In the next few days 14 000 tonnes of waste and soil residues containing PCBs are due to be transported from GarØ in Hungary into European Union countries for incineration although Hungary has sufficient facilities for the incineration and final storage of that waste. Does the Commission know whether and to what extent Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 (1) on the 1. supervision and control of cross-border shipment of waste has already been adopted and transposed into national law in the countries applying for accession, such as Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic (the latter two as transport corridors)? 2. Does the Commission know whether the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 relating to preventive environmental protection, public order, public safety and health protection and applicable to transport conditions, carriers and the authorities responsible for authorising such shipments of dangerous waste are actually being complied with? Has the Commission exercised its supervisory powers in this respect, and if so, what was the 3. outcome? 4. Does the Commission believe that the principle of proximity took precedence when the decision as to the place of incineration was taken to transport highly dangerous waste from GarØ to distant EU countries? ü If so, how does it justify this decision? ü If not, what action is it taking to prevent any danger to the population and the environment? (1) OJ L 30, 6. 2. 1993, p. 1. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (11 February 2000) Council Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of into and out of the Community does not apply as such to third countries. However, waste within,