EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 70/127

(2004/C 70 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2656/03

by Josu Ortuondo Larrea (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject: Fisheries agreement between Spain and France — ‘Arcachon Accord’

The press has recently reported on the agreement reached by way of an exchange of letters between the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods and its French counterpart, establishing an annual extension of the Arcachon Accord of 1992.

From what we are told, Spain has undertaken, under this extension agreement, to make an annual exchange with France, before 1 June each year, of a quota of 6 000 tonnes of anchovies. This figure could be revised upwards on the basis of changes in the catches taken by each country.

Given the importance of the Arcachon Accord owing to its economic and social consequences, particularly for the Basque fisheries sector:

— Has the Commission received, pursuant to Articles 20(3) and 20(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 (1) on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy, the relevant communication from Spain on the method of allocating, for vessels flying its flag, the fishing opportunities assigned to it in accordance with Community law, as well as the prior notifications from Spain and France of the exchange of fishing opportunities established under the Arcachon Accord and the latest annual extension to it?

— Could the Commission inform me of the precise content, in full, of the Arcachon Accord and the latest annual extension to it, and of the allocation method used by Spain to distribute the fishing opportunities assigned to it among vessels flying its flag, in the light of the agreements reached with France and in accordance with Community legislation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2003)

The Commission is not aware of the agreement referred to in the Honourable Member's question. As a result, the Commission is unable to come to any conclusions as regards the validity of the terms of the agreement under Community law, nor is it able to provide a copy.

To date, Spain has not informed the Commission of the method used for allocating the fishing opportunities assigned to it.

The annual quotas for each Member State for 2003 were allocated in Council Regulation (EC) No 2341/2002 of 20 December 2002 fixing for 2003 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required (2). Article 4 of that Regulation takes account of the possibility of exchanges being made between the Member States.

Thus, on 18 March 2003 Spain notified the Commission of the transfer of 9 000 tonnes (in zone VIII) to France (the same quantity as in 2002), which thus increased its annual quota.

Also, Commission Regulation (EC) No 728/2003 of 25 April 2003 adapting certain fish quotas for 2003 pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (3) allows a maximum of 10 % of the quota for the previous year to be transferred to the current year.

The quota transfer requested (for zone VIII) was 1 992 tonnes in the case of Spain and 1 050 tonnes in the case of France.

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59.

(2) OJ L 83, 1.4.2003.

(3) OJ L 105, 26.4.2003.