WRITTEN QUESTION P-1197/01

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(4 April 2001)

Subject: Failure of the EU/Morocco fisheries agreement negotiations: extraordinary aid for fleet conversion

The recent failure of the European Union and Morocco to reach agreement on renewing the Fisheries Agreement with Morocco has left many hundreds of Portuguese and Spanish fishermen unable to fish; moreover, the entire fleet which traditionally fished in Moroccan waters has been tied up since the end of 1999.

The economic and social impact of this situation is already severe, and has been particularly grave in certain fishing communities. In Portugal, this affects Sesimbra and the Algarve coast especially.

The failure of the Commission's negotiations with Morocco means that it is now a matter of urgency that this part of the fleet be restructured, and thus enabled to resume fishing in more distant waters. This requires urgent, extraordinary financial support measures.

What measures has the Commission already taken, or does it intend to take, as a matter of urgency, with a view to meeting the needs and wants of the fishermen and shipowners who have been directly and seriously hit by the failure of the EU negotiations with Morocco?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2001)

When the Fisheries Agreement with Morocco ended on 30 November 1999, some 400 Spanish and Portuguese vessels were fishing under this Agreement.

Compensation for temporary cessation of activities, co-financed with the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) was granted to the affected fleet and fishermen from 1 December 1999 till 30 June 2000 as provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999(1).

As agreement was not reached, this aid was extended until 31 December 2000, under the condition that fleet conversion plans be submitted by Spain and Portugal. These plans were approved by the Commission on 30 November 2000.

There is currently a Commission proposal before the Council and the Parliament for extending the period of compensation until the end of June 2001(2).

The Commission is also exploring the possibility of allocating extra credits for helping the conversion of the fleets affected, as requested by the European Council in Nice on 7 December 2000(3).

It should be recalled that a wide range of socio-economic measures are already possible under the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 such as (i) early-retirement schemes for fishermen, and (ii) non-renewable individual compensatory payments to fishermen to help them retrain or diversify their activities outside maritime fisheries. With respect to the vessels the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 include premiums for the permanent cessation of activities (either by scrapping or by permanent transfer of the vessel to a third country, including in the framework of a joint enterprise, or permanent reassignment of the vessel for purposes other than fishing); grants are also available for the modernisation of vessels in order to allow them to turn to alternative fishing grounds and techniques, provided that such alternative activities do not jeopardise fish stocks.

The Commission will assist the Member States concerned to ensure that the conversion of both fishermen and vessels will be implemented in the best possible way.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (OJ L 337, 30.12.1999).

(2) COM(2001) 62 final.

(3) Document SN 400/00 (Presidency conclusions), item 59.