WRITTEN QUESTION E-0411/96 by Raphaël Chanterie (PPE) to the Commission (29 February 1996)

Subject: Adjustment of capacities in the fisheries sector

1. How have the various Member States transposed the Community rules for removing fishing vessels from service, namely Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 ((OJ L 346, 31.12.1993, p. 1. )), how are they implementing the programme and how are they monitoring implementation of it?

2. How much of the money allocated, and made available since 1987, has been used by the Member States as compensation for:

- scrapping fishing vessels;

- permanent transfer of vessels to third countries;

- permanent re-assignment of the vessels to uses other than fishing in Community waters?

3. What enterprises are active in this area in the various Member states?

4. What compensation have these enterprises received for:

- scrapping;

- transfer;

- re-assignment?

5. What sums have been paid to the various Member States in support of removing fishing vessels from service, pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 3944/90 ((OJ L 380, 31.12.1990, p. 1. )), and what vessels and joint enterprises have benefited from this scheme?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1996)

1. The Member States have notified the Commission of the measures adopted under their national legislation in respect of assistance for the permanent withdrawal of vessels from fishing activities in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 3699/93. All the programmes are currently in progress and being monitored by the Commission in the partnership framework.

2. Title VII of Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86, ((OJ L 376, 31.12.1986 )) as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3944/90, gave the Member States the possibility to grant final cessation premiums in respect of fishing vessels. Article 24 defined permanent withdrawal as the scrapping, transfer or re-assignment of the vessel to uses other than fishing.

The Community has contributed to the costs by reimbursing part of the expenditure incurred (50% of the expenditure eligible under Scale V of the Regulation - for scrapping, the percentage was raised to 70% with effect from 1991) to the Member States, subject to limits fixed annually by decision of the Commission.

The Community granted the Member States a total of ECU 501 million between 1987 and 1993 in respect of permanent withdrawal. Out of this, a total of ECU 391 million has actually been paid out. The figure of ECU 501 million represents 47% of total assistance granted to the fishing fleet during the period in question. The Community assistance represents approximately 60% of the premiums paid out by the Member States to owners of fishing vessels.

A total of 5 200 vessels has been withdrawn during the period, but as the Commission's allocation to the Member States is in the form of a lump sum, the reimbursements have not been broken down by type of withdrawal. However, out of the 5 200 vessels withdrawn, 4 200 have been scrapped. A reasonable estimate therefore would be that about 80% of the assistance went on vessels scrapped, between 10% and 15% on vessels transferred and between 5% and 10% on vessels assigned to uses other than fishing.

3-4. Owing to the indirect nature of the measure, the Commission has no information at its disposal on enterprises in receipt of final cessation premiums. Considering the large number of vessels withdrawn, the total of enterprises and shipowners must run into thousands.

5. The breakdown by Member State of the EC contributions in respect of permanent withdrawal measures (excluding joint enterprises) can be found in Table 1 below. A total of 5 196 vessels has been withdrawn, equivalent to 323 000 gross registered tonnes and 842 000 kW.

Table 2 shows the number of projects financed, corresponding tonnages and EC assistance in respect of joint enterprises.

TABLE 1: Final cessation premiums (in ECU millions)

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TABLE 2: Joint enterprises

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