91997E3784

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3784/97 by Carlos Pimenta (PPE) to the Commission (26 November 1997)

Subject: Implementation of Council Proposal 97/C 207/11 for an Agreement on international humane trapping standards between the European Community, Canada and the Russian Federation

If, as the Commission prefers, the Council decides to reject the opinion of the European Parliament and votes instead to conclude the proposed Agreement with Canada and the Russian Federation, how does the Commission propose to ensure that the terms of the Agreement will be implemented within the European Union?

In particular, does the Commission plan to bring forward a proposal for either a Directive or a Regulation and if so, what will be the proposed legal basis?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1998)

The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that the Agreement on international humane trappings standards between the European Community, Canada and the Russian Federation has not yet been ratified.

Even if the matter is already under consideration the Commission cannot make a formal statement on these issues until the Agreement has been formally concluded by the Council. Parliament will be informed through the usual channels if any proposal for incorporating this Agreement into Community law is adopted by the Commission.