WRITTEN QUESTION P-2665/97 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (24 July 1997)

Subject: Community vessel Arpón arrested by the Argentinean authorities

On 13 May 1997 the Argentinian authorities arrested the Community vessel Arpón, which was fishing in international waters off the Argentine coast, and have been holding it since that date.

Can the Commission tell me what steps it has taken to clarify what happened and to get the Argentinian authorities to release the vessel?

What is the current and future picture with regard to EU-Argentinian cooperation? What benefits does the EU grant Argentina? What aid does the country receive?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1997)

The vessel Arpon arrested by the Argentine authorities was not operating within the scope of the Fisheries Agreement between the Community and Argentina. The Commission, anxious to help defend the legitimate interests of Community vessel owners, has however already several times endeavoured at various levels, both political and administrative, to clarify the situation. Primary responsibility for resolving situations of this type nonetheless relies in the first place with the owner and then with the flag Member State. The owner, who had the choice between an out-of-court settlement and court proceedings, has opted for the former.

It is now more than a year since the Commission took the necessary steps on its part towards securing sustainable responsible exploitation of fishery resources outside the Argentine 200-mile limit. The Arpon incident reinforces the need for closer cooperation between the countries involved.

Cooperation between the Community and Argentina has significantly increased in recent years following signature of the Cooperation Agreement signed in 1990. The most striking achievements are:

* conclusion in May 1994 of the Fisheries Agreement; this makes available ECU 28 million for scientific and technical cooperation

 the Euratom Agreement with Argentina for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, signed at Brussels on 11 June 1996

Activities under the 1990 Cooperation Agreement have embraced various fields:

- ECU 16 million for projects of a social character: 'Socialization of marginalized juveniles in Buenos Aires' (ECU 9.3 million), 'Integrated development in Ramên Lista' (ECU 5.5 million), and 'Integrated development of marginalized Areas of Santa Fe' (ECU 755 000).

- economic cooperation has made great progress in the last few years, notably with the 'Rational utilization of energy' programme and in the timber sector.

- Argentina is benefiting substantially from the EC International Investment Partners Programme (ECIP), having been assigned ECU 5 million, and from the Al-Invest Programme.

Cooperation on human rights has ensued at the request of the 'Plaza de Mayo Grandmothers'. The aim is identification and location of the children who disappeared during the military dictatorship.

Future cooperation is expected to embrace projects on optimum energy utilization, reinforcement of provincial support structures for Argentine SMEs, formulation of technical and certification standards and administrative reform.