WRITTEN QUESTION P-1735/00

by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission

(20 May 2000)

Subject: Aid for re-engining of fishing vessels

Council Regulation (EC) 2792/1999(1) of 17 December 1999 lays down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector.

The Regulation establishes a framework for all measures to be carried out in the fisheries sector, one of the clear objectives of which is the preservation and long-term viability of aquatic resources.

Article 6 of the Regulation deals with the arrangements for fleet renewal and modernisation of fishing vessels, stipulating that entries and exits from the fleet are to be managed in such a way that the capacity does not exceed the annual objectives fixed in the multiannual guidance programme, for the whole fleet and for the segments concerned.

Paragraph 2 of the same article states that Member States can submit a request for a clearly identified and quantified increase in the capacity objectives for measures to improve safety, navigation at sea, hygiene, product quality and working conditions provided that these measures do not result in an increase in the exploitation rate of the resources concerned.

In France, however, aid for re-engining of existing working vessels has been suspended for the present on the basis of an interpretation of Article 6(1), with no account being taken of paragraph 2. How could one possibly reduce the power of a trawler of over 12 metres by 30 % without jeopardising safety on the vessel and without bringing about an impairment in working conditions? Furthermore, maintaining power does not entail an increase in the exploitation rate, but simply maintains it at the same level. There is no question of new capacity being created.

Re-engining with no increase in capacity, which is a necessary component in vessel safety, seems to me to fall within the definition of modernisation eligible for Community aid. I should like the Commission to clarify this point, since the way the Regulation is currently interpreted in France heavily penalises small-scale fishing activities along the French Atlantic coast, imperilling the economic balance of our fishing ports, which have already been seriously affected by previous reductions in the fleet and are directly affected at present by the Erika oil slick.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

Article 9 of 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(1) allows the granting of public aid for the renewal and modernisation of vessels belonging to segments of the fleet that have not respected the objectives of the multi-annual guidance programmes (MAGP) provided that the the global objectives of the MAGP have been respected and that during the years 2000 2001 any capacity entered with public aid must be compensated by the withdrawal without public aid of a capacity at least 30 % greater than that introduced in the segment concerned, taken in aggregate and in terms of both tonnage and power.

These provisions require that the entry of new capacity with public aid be compensated by the withdrawal of capacity without public aid at the level of the segment, not at the level of individual vessels. The replacement of an engine with public aid does not therefore require a reduction in the power of the individual vessel concerned, but rather a reduction in the power of the segment as a whole before the end of 2001.

In this respect there need not be a deterioration in safety or working conditions aboard the vessels benefiting from public aid. It is also pointed out that the replacement of an engine with one of equal power can be considered a normal operational cost, which if met in full by the vessel owner rather than benefiting from public aid would not require the withdrawal of a 30 % greater capacity from the segment.

Where the segment objectives have been met, public aid can be granted for engine replacements without the requirement to withdraw a greater capacity in compensation. The Honourable Member is reminded that access to public aid for fleet renewal and modernisation where the segment objectives have not been met is a temporary provision of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 that is subject to the strict conditions agreed by the Council.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.