WRITTEN QUESTION P-3352/01

by Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(27 November 2001)

Subject: Subsidies for stock farming

In Sweden, and presumably in other countries, there have been cases in which stock farmers have applied for and been granted EU subsidies and subsequently have not treated their animals in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. Even people who have been banned from stock farming because of previous maltreatment of their animals have been granted subsidies.

The EU subsidies which are granted for stock farming are allocated regardless of whether the animals are maltreated or whether the owner has a permit to have animals or not. As long as the owner still has the animals, the subsidies continue to be paid.

Is the Commission aware of this problem and, if so, what does it intend to do to resolve it?

Has the Commission investigated what proportion of the subsidies paid each year for stock farming goes to owners who maltreat their animals?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-3298/01 and P-3352/01given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the problem highlighted by the Honourable Members. It should be noted that the Protocol on the protection and the welfare of animals annexed to the Treaty of Amsterdam(1) stipulates that in formulating and implementing the Community's agriculture policy, the Community and the Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals.

Payment of aid to individual farmers is done by national administration, as it falls within the competence of Member States. The Commission therefore does not have any practical action on individual cases.

In the case of written question E-3298/01, since the Honourable Member refers to Community subsidies in general, the Commission cannot answer in detail.

However, in case of direct farming support schemes, several requirements can be highlighted from the legal basis:

- First, as concerns Compensatory allowances in Less Favoured Areas, following the provisions in Article 14(2) of Regulation 1257/1999(2), in order to be eligible for support the beneficiary shall adhere to Good Farming Practice, to be defined by the Member State.

- Second, in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation 1259/1999(3), in the case of direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy, it is up to Member States to take the environmental measures they consider to be appropriate in view of the situation of the agricultural land used or the production concerned and which reflect the potential environmental effects. These measures may, among other things, include general mandatory environmental requirements and specific environmental requirements constituting a condition for direct payments. However, animal welfare is not explicitly mentioned in the Council Regulation.

- Finally, and from a more general point of view, indent 11 of Article 33 in Regulation 1257/1999 provides Member States with possibilities to carry out measures in order to improve animal welfare.

(1) OJ C 340, 10.11.1997.

(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(3) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.