WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/03

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Funding of joint ventures in the fishing industry

Following the reform of the common fisheries policy adopted in December 2002, financial support for joint ventures under the FIFG will disappear at the end of 2004. According to information from the Commission, the EU has set aside EUR 2 400 million in support mechanisms for the European private sector in third countries, to which the fishing industry would have access.

1. Can the Commission provide information on the origin of these funds intended for the European private sector in third countries?

2. Can the Commission say when, through what procedure and on what terms the European fishing industry will be able to access this support?

3. Given their value as a development cooperation instrument for third countries, and as a factor creating jobs and wealth in the Community fishing industry and in EU Objective 1 regions heavily dependent on fishing, can the Commission say whether it is still considering the possibility of maintaining aid for joint ventures under the FIFG after 2004, either as part of existing fisheries agreements or outside them, bearing in mind that 78 % of joint ventures are based in third countries with which the EU has not concluded such agreements?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2003)

The Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States agreed, under the ACP-EC Association Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, to make available to the ACP and European private sector and commercially-managed public sector an investment fund of EUR 2,2 billion. Investment funds have likewise been set up in the context of cooperation between the Community and developing countries in the Mediterranean, Latin America and South and South-East Asia.

Since the Cotonou Agreement's entry into force on 1 April 2003, the ACP-EC fund called an investment facility has been managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The fund enables financial support to be provided for investment in the ACP countries in the form of loans, acquisition of capital holdings and guarantees. It may also finance subject to certain conditions public enterprises, infrastructure and private projects on special terms.

The facility meets the private sector's needs. Its funding is therefore not reserved for specific countries or sectors, but since fisheries is a major production and trade sector in the ACP countries it seems natural that part of the facility may be used by the private sector operating in that sphere.

The procedures and eligibility conditions for access to the funding are available from the EIB. The EIB may be involved either directly or indirectly, via a network of its European and ACP partner financial institutions.

More particularly as regards access to the funding for European enterprises in the fisheries sector, the Commission is in the process of implementing in close cooperation with the EIB and the instruments for supporting private-sector development a policy aimed at raising awareness in the sector and particularly at promoting investment in the ACP countries.

Aid for setting up joint ventures, as referred to by the Honourable Member, is governed by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002(1). Hence the Commission cannot comment at this stage on what the eligibility criteria will be after 31 December 2004, the expiry date stipulated in that Regulation.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 of 20 December 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.