WRITTEN QUESTION E-0020/01

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

(17 January 2001)

Subject: International fisheries agreements and the Baltic countries

The different ways in which the Commission manages international fisheries agreements in the North and South is creating grievances among EU shipowners operating in both these areas.

Can the Commission confirm that a compensatory payment is paid to the Baltic States in connection with the granting of fishing opportunities?

What steps are taken to monitor the use of this compensation by the third country concerned?

Does the Commission believe that Community fishermen who benefit from these quotas should contribute to the payment of this compensation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2001)

A large part of the fishery resources of the Baltic Sea consists of common stocks or highly interrelated stocks exploited by fishermen from several countries. As a result, a balanced exchange of fishing possibilities and reciprocal access arrangements in the context of joint management schemes for common stocks constitute the cornerstone of the fisheries agreements concluded in 1996 between the Community and Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia(1). In the case of a surplus of resources, the respective country may grant additional fishing possibilities in its exclusive economic zone. In exchange, the Community grants financial contributions pursuant to Article 4 of all the above fisheries agreements. Fishing possibilities and financial contributions are determined on an annual basis in the framework of bilateral consultations on fisheries arrangements.

Article 4 of all the above fisheries agreements foresees that the financial contributions shall be utilised by the respective country to support the development of its fisheries sector. The contributions are transferred to a bank account designated by the respective national authorities responsible for fisheries, and administered by them. The Community is informed about the use of the financial contributions in the framework of the annual bilateral consultations on fisheries arrangements.

The fisheries agreements with the Baltic States, which will remain in force until 2003 (Latvia, Lithuania) and 2006 (Estonia), do not provide for a sharing of the costs between the Community and its fishermen. At the time of the negotiation of these fisheries agreements, none of the Contracting Parties concerned requested the introduction of payments by the fishermen. It should be borne in mind that fisheries arrangements in the Baltic Sea are very complex, allowing i.a. Community fishermen to fish on third countries quotas both in third countries' waters and, under special circumstances, in Community waters. In addition, under the reciprocal access arrangements, they can fish in third countries' waters on Community quotas. Apart from the political problem that Community fishermen fishing in the same area may be subject to different financial conditions if some had to pay and others not, the administrative burden of payments by fishermen would be very high, especially in relation to the rather limited quantities involved. Furthermore, a range of legal problems would be generated. However, the Commission believes that the discussion of this issue could be placed in the wider context of the reform of the common fisheries policy.

(1) Council Regulations (EC) No 2394/96, 2395/96 and 2396/96 of 2 December 1996 (OJ L 332, 20.12.1996).