WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2912/98 by Richard CORBETT Merseyside's new image
C 320/14 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 11. 1999 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1998) Community rules on the protection of animals on farms lay down minimum standards which must be observed by all Member States. They also allow Member States to introduce or maintain stricter standards for the protection of animals than would be achieved by the Community rules, but any such national provisions must be applied in accordance with the general rules of the EC Treaty and must be notified to the Commission. Bearing in mind that producers may obtain a premium for using more welfare friendly systems, it is not clear that higher welfare standards necessarily impose an economic disadvantage on those using them. The World trade organisation (WTO) rules apply to trade between the Community as a whole and other WTO members. They do not apply to trade between Member States. The possibility of amending WTO rules to take account of welfare concerns will be addressed in the context of the determination of the Community negotiating objectives for the next stage of the WTO negotiations. (1999/C 320/019) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2911/98 by Stephen Hughes (PSE) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: Withdrawal from the EEC Surplus Food Scheme Could the Commission indicate the total amount contributed by the British Government to the budget of the European Union? What proportion of that amount is allocated to the Surplus Food Scheme? Could the Commission indicate whether the British Government will still have to pay the contributions relating specifically to the Surplus Food Scheme even though the UK will no longer take part? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1998) According to the 1999 preliminary draft budget the British share in total Community budget resources will amount to 13,9 % or 11 606 million euro. The total provision for the scheme for distributing surplus food to disadvantaged people amounts to 200 million euro. In accordance with normal budgetary principles, the own resources contributions of the Member States are not allocated to specific expenditure lines. If the United Kingdom joined the scheme, it would obtain receipts under that scheme. The extent of those receipts in 1999, based on a formula which takes into account poverty keys, the utilisation of resources in prior years and the request presented by the Member State, would be in the region of 11 million euro. (1999/C 320/020) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2912/98 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: Merseyside’s new image In the context of a new round of Objective 1 measures to benefit Merseyside, does the Commission agree that the issue of Merseyside’s image must be properly addressed?