WRITTEN QUESTION E-0409/98 by Carmen Fraga Estévez (PPE) to the Commission (24 February 1998)

Subject: Coordination for aid for the development of the fisheries sectors of the ACP States

The European Union shows extremely great interest in the development of the ACP States' fisheries sectors. Whilst projects in this area are administered by DG VIII, it is DG XIV that is responsible for fisheries policy. Increasingly, many of the development projects in third countries are implemented under the protocols to the commercial fisheries agreements.

In view of this, and taking account of the joint answer given by Commissioner Pinheiro on 23 April 1997 to written questions nos E-0923/87 to E-0934/97 ((OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 197. )), will the Commission say whether there is any real coordination between the two Directorates-General involved as regards examination of development projects in the fisheries sector and, if there is, how they organize such coordination so as to avoid inconsistencies which could lead to Community development funds being wasted?

What exactly are the respective roles of DG VIII and DG XIV in the decisions taken in the EU concerning the establishment of fisheries programmes for the ACP States?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (11 March 1998)

As the Honourable Member points out, within the Commission it is Directorate-General XIV which is responsible for the common fisheries policy, including its external aspects, and Directorate-General VIII which is responsible for development policy, in particular for countries with which the Community has fisheries agreements.

The Commission has on a number of occasions pointed to the need to improve the coherence of fisheries agreements and development policy, i.e. to ensure, pursuant to Articles 130u and 130v of the EC Treaty that the conclusion and implementation of fisheries agreements are not inconsistent with the strategies set out in national and regional fisheries development cooperation programmes, to which the Community contributes where necessary. This concern for coherence and complementarity was underlined by the Council meeting on development held on 5 June 1997 (resolution on coherence), by the Council meeting on fisheries held on 30 October 1997 and by Parliament itself in its resolution on international fisheries agreements of 15 May 1997 (A4-0149/97).

An inter-departmental working party on fisheries and development was set up in October 1997 to improve coordination in this field between the Commission departments concerned. It meets regularly and brings together representatives from Directorates-General XIV and VIII with the aim not only of avoiding inconsistencies but also bringing about synergy of Community fisheries and development policies by the communication of information between those Directorates-General and in-depth exchanges of views on relevant issues in the fisheries sector. Having regard to these mechanisms and the legal bases of the Community's various policy instruments, each Directorate-General administers those of which it is in charge.

One example is the practical collaboration between Directorates-General XII, XIV and VIII in organising three conferences on the fisheries research initiative between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the Community which will be held in connection with Expo '98 both to promote a coordinated approach to research by European scientists and scientists from the developing countries (including the exploration of new concepts for the future of the industry) and to create interfaces between scientists and decision makers.