WRITTEN QUESTION E-0760/00

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

(13 March 2000)

Subject: Supply of tuna steak to the Community market

At the Fisheries Council meeting held on 30 March 1999, the Commission undertook to launch a study with a view to establishing the state of affairs concerning the supply of tuna steak to the Community market.

This study was submitted on 29 November 1999, and presented as a study of demand and supply of tuna steak (evaluation of the short- and medium-term supply of tuna steak to the Community market).

Does the Commission consider that this study permits a clear evaluation of the economic and social cost to the Community of opening a tuna steak quota at a reduced rate of duty for third countries?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0756/00, E-0757/00, E-0758/00, E-0759/00, E-0760/00 and E-0761/00 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2000)

The Commission considers the study in question to constitute a very detailed short and medium-term assessment for supply of tuna loins to the Community market. It discharges the Commission's commitment of 30 March 1999.

On the purpose of the study, the first paragraph of its management summary speaks of examining the supply situation for tuna loins to gain a full picture of the supply chain and its main operators. Thus the scope of the study is clear at the beginning of the document.

The passage to which the Honourable Member refers in his question E-759/00 comes from the last paragraph of the management summary and sums up the present difficulties affecting supply of the Community market. The lack of competitiveness found by the study appears particularly marked in the Italian canning industry owing to its cost structure.

The other matters raised by the Honourable Member in question E-760/00 (economic and social costs), although strictly speaking non-commercial considerations, were also taken into account in the study. In its conclusions this points out that economic and social costs affect or are liable to affect Community enterprises, whether through the difficulties that some are encountering from intra-EU or international competition or because in the long term full opening of the Community market in tuna loins may well affect exporting countries at present enjoying a preferential arrangement.

The Honourable Member also says that the study focuses on the Italian canning industry rather than on the Community industry as a whole. The Commission finds the study well balanced in both its analysis and conclusions. The analysis covers the main producing and consuming Member States (and non-EU countries) and the recommendations cover all players in the market.

In short, the Commission finds that the study has clarified the current structure and functioning of the Community market in tuna loins (principal enterprises, supply channels) and its short and medium-term evolution.

Increasing demand for loins has been met in part by steadily increasing imports into the Community. The Commission infers that the strong trend in the Community fishery products market of ever-increasing dependence on raw fish imports also holds good for tuna.

The study also confirms that Community enterprises' use of tuna loins as raw material for the canning industry is helping to improve their competitiveness both inside and outside the Union. It also claims, and the Commission agrees, that this improvement in competitiveness is all the more necessary in that certain parts of the Community canning industry will have to make structural adjustments if they are to be viable in the long term.

Lastly, the Commission notes the existence of a limited but real seasonal supply deficit in the Community market.

For 2000, as it has done for past years, it proposed a limited quota for tuna loins. The Council has in turn opened these quotas.

Turning to the medium term, on 17 December 1999 the Council and Commission signed an agreement whereby an annual 4 000 tonne quota at 6 % duty will be opened for 2001-2003. This will allow Community canners to make good the abovementioned shortfall and for those enterprises faced with the need for structural change will facilitate the achievement of greater competitiveness on the Community and international markets.