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July - September 2013 / No 4
QUARTERLY REVIEW
Building bridges: providing citizens with the information they request
This quarterly review gives information compiled by the Citizens’ Enquiry Service (CITES) garnered directly from citizens through the 
correspondence sent to the European Parliament which is received and treated by the Unit. CITES aims to give citizens, when asked, 
information about the EP, how it works and how legislation is formulated.   
We provide one of the bridges between citizens and their representatives across which they can express themselves in writing and receive 
replies. The purpose of the review is to give an insight into the issues that were preoccupying citizens who wrote to our Unit. 
Stray dogs in Romania
In the aftermath of a deadly dog attack 
on a four-year-old boy in Romania, the 
government’s adoption of a new law for the 
mass euthanasia of stray dogs has created 
an overwhelming reaction from citizens 
throughout Europe. 
Animal rights activists abhor what they see 
as brutal treatment of dogs and plead for 
an improvement to be made in stray animal 
management strategies. Enforcement of this 
new law also evoked general comments 
from citizens concerning the management 
of EU funds allocated to that Member State. 
More information
EP’s Intergroup on the Welfare and 
Conservation of Animals
 
European Parliament resolution of 4 July 
2012 on the establishment of an EU legal 
framework for the protection of pets and 
stray animals
Democratic crisis in Egypt
US spying allegations
In the wake of the demonstrations that took  authoritarian regime. Many citizens were  The US National Security Agency (NSA) 
place at the end of June in Tahrir Square in  particularly outraged at the portrayal of  surveillance programmes, and in particular 
Cairo, the ensuing political unrest throughout  events by the western media. As far as they  the alleged bugging of EU institution 
Egypt sparked a wave of correspondence  were concerned, they did not consider the  premises,  was  the  subject  of  another  influx 
from citizens to the European Parliament  intervention to be a military coup.  
of letters from citizens during the summer 
during the third quarter of 2013.
period.
Hope for democracy
Violence in the streets
One of the main issues reflected by citizens 
Some citizens thus appealed to the EP  was their fear that their fundamental right to 
Among the letters received, the most  for help and requested that Egyptians be  privacy could have been violated. Another 
predominant preoccupation of citizens  supported  in  their  fight  for  freedom  and  in  line of enquiry was to request the European 
centred on the acts of violence which spilled  finding  a  peaceful  and  durable  solution  to  Parliament to take action and to conduct 
over into the streets of Cairo. What started  the crisis. Others, however, took a firm stance  a full investigation into whether there was 
out as peaceful demonstrations ended in  against any type of interference from the  any truth in the allegations. Some even 
violent clashes between demonstrators and  EU or any other state, claiming the situation  suggested that all EU-US relations should be 
Egyptian security forces. Citizens described  to be an internal matter. The underlying  put on hold until results of the enquiry were 
how unarmed civilians were the victims of  thread, however, in each citizen’s message,  made known.
brutal violence, how hostages were taken  was a call for a rapid return to a fair and 
and Coptic churches and mosques were  democratic society, where rule of law and  The fate of whistle-blower, Edward Snowden,  
attacked and burned. Citizens lamented  respect for human rights prevail.
triggered further reaction from citizens. In 
the chaos and despair that reigned on 
particular, citizens enquired as to what role 
the streets since the ouster of the Egyptian  More information
the European Parliament played in the 
President.
granting of his request for asylum. 
EP resolution of 12 September 2013 on the 
The desire to express their perception of  situation in Egypt
More information
the situation in Egypt is what mostly pushed 
people to write to the European Parliament.  MEPs debate the situation in Egypt with EU  EP resolution of 4 July 2013 on the US National 
Most of them perceived the intervention as  foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton
Security Agency surveillance programme, 
a people’s revolution, intended to defend 
surveillance bodies in various Member States 
the country against what they called an  Martin Schulz on the situation in Egypt
and their impact on EU citizens’ privacy



Free trade with Canada and the United States
Tobacco products directive
In the past months, an unprecedented  Canada to directly sue governments in the  The proposed directive on tobacco 
amount of correspondence has been  European Union, or vice versa. There was  and related products, and especially 
received from Canada. There was fear that this would limit the political room to  the amendments adopted by the ENVI 
opposition to the Comprehensive Economic  manoeuvre, as companies would be able  committee, spurred smokers and consumers 
and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is  to seek damages e.g. in cases of tighter  of electronic cigarettes to write to the EP 
currently being negotiated between the  environmental legislation hampering their  and express their opposition ahead of the 
European Commission and the Government  businesses. 
plenary vote scheduled for this autumn. 
of Canada. 
Citizens also commented on the recently  It was mainly e-cigarette users who expressed 
launched negotiations on a Transatlantic  worries  about  the  classification  of  all 
Trade and Investment Partnership with the  electronic cigarettes and nicotine liquids as 
United States (TTIP). In the context of the  medicinal products, fearing this would make 
NSA surveillance revelations, they expressed  them more expensive and difficult to access. 
particular worries about data protection 
and questioned the benefits of the planned  Citizens also criticised the proposed ban on 
agreement.
flavoured  tobacco  products,  in  particular 
menthol cigarettes, claiming this would 
More information
infringe on their personal freedom and lead 
to an increase in illicit trade of such products.
European Parliament resolution of 8 June 
2011 on EU-Canada trade relations
More information
Trade relations between the EU and Canada  Public Health Committee MEPs toughen up 
Citizens primarily expressed concerns (European Commission)
plans to deter young people from smoking
about detrimental environmental effects 
of the agreement, in particular with regard  EP resolution of 23 May 2013 on EU trade and  Procedure file in the Legislative Observatory 
to rules that would allow investors from  investment negotiations with the USA
on the tobacco products directive
Statistics for the 3rd quarter of 2013 
In the third quarter of 2013, CITES treated 
700
a total of 2143 enquiries emanating from 
Number of enquiries per country of residence
nearly all the Member States as well as 
600
countries outside the EU.
As in the past, the largest percentage of 
500
queries concentrated on activities within 
the EU and its Member States. Agriculture 
400
and animal welfare topped the internal 
matters categories, reflecting the number of 
correspondence received on the situation of 
300
stray dogs in Romania.
200
The number of enquiries regarding EU 
external relations and external matters was 
on the up this quarter, accounting for almost 
100
one fifth of the total received. More than half 
of these dealt with foreign affairs issues. 
0
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ly m
in
d ia
s
e
y
d
ia
ia
Those relating to institutional affairs 
Ita
an
en
tria
gar
ria
lta
oatia
ark
urg
Polan
Aus
public
Latvia Ma bo
untries
decreased slightly this quarter, but 90% of 
GermanyFranc
ingdoBelgiumSpa Rom Swed
GreecHun
Cr PortugalIrelanSlovakiaBulgaSloveniaCyprus
Denm Finland
Lithuan
Eston
xem
specified
Netherland
 Co
ech Re
Lu
Un
them still touched on EP-related issues.
United K
Cz
n UE
No
Internal matters
Institutional affairs
Agriculture and animal welfare
425
42%
European Parliament
436
90%
EU institutions and constitutional affairs
30
6%
Institutional affairs
Civil liberties, justice and home affairs
290
29%
486
Economy and finances
55
5%
Budget
11
2%
23%
Employment and social affairs
52
5%
Enlargement
9
2%
Environment
45
4%
Internal matters
1012
Public health
25
2%
EU external relations
47%
 / External matters
Transport
24
2%
EU external relations/external matters
396
Education
20
2%
Foreign affairs
236
60%
18%
Energy
15
1%
International trade
86
22%
Other
Food safety
14
1%
Human rights
34
9%
249
12%
Consumer protection
12
1%
Economy and finances
9
2%
Culture
11
1%
Security and defence
6
2%
Miscellaneous
24
2%
Miscellaneous
25
6%
The items contained herein are produced by CITES and are provided for general information purposes only. The opinions 
expressed are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the EP. Reproduction 
and further distribution is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 
Editorial team: F. Bubenheimer, L. Forde, P. Heath, C. Lázaro. To request more information on the articles in the CITES Quarterly 
Review and make comments, please contact us: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx. CITES Quarterly Review can be 
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