EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/286

(2004/C 78 E/0286)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3450/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Criteria for fisheries sector structural actions

Commissioner Fischler, in his reply of 7.2.2002 to my question E-3593/01 (1) concerning the fixed premiums for fishermen who had worked in the fleet operating off Morocco, stated that ‘It was felt more appropriate to direct Community funding towards measures to adjust fleet capacity in line with resources’, adding that, with regard to Council Regulation EC No 2792/1999 (2) of 17 December 1999, ‘the Member States can introduce additional conditions in their national legislation, provided that they conform with the Community rules and regulations on assistance’.

According to the ‘Southern Fisheries Workers’ trade union, the Portuguese Government has not responded to requests for assistance from the fishermen of Sesimbra, who worked on the vessels ‘Anacleto António’, ‘Castelo Manuel’ and ‘José Leste’, which came under the modernisation/conversion process, and had submitted their respective applications for fixed individual premiums well before the closing date in 2002, but who have not yet been informed of the contents of the decision which has apparently been taken on their applications.

Given the desperate plight of these fishermen, who are still not in receipt of the individual fixed premiums under the Regulation in question, will the Commission tell me what measures it intends to take to make good this injustice, and deal with the serious social problems of these Portuguese fishermen?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2003)

The previous written question related to Article 12(3)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (3), which does not apply to vessels affected by the non-renewal of the agreement with Morocco because they do not meet the requirements regarding the permanent cessation of fishing activities within the meaning of Article 7 of that Regulation.

The owners of the vessels referred to in this new question submitted proposals on modernisation and conversion of activities and these were approved by the Portuguese authorities on 30 June 2003. Also, the fishermen who worked on board those vessels have submitted applications for individual compensatory payments.

As pointed out above, payments for fishermen affected by the permanent cessation of vessel activities are only eligible for aid from the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) under the conditions laid down in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999, i.e. under fishing activity reduction programmes. At the present time they do not qualify for the special measures under Council Regulation (EC) No 2561/2001 (4) either, but an amendment of that Regulation is currently being discussed by the Council and it is possible that some provisions may be changed and become more advantageous for them.

(1) OJ C 160 E, 4.7.2002, p. 150.

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

(3) 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, OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 2561/2001 of 17 December 2001 aiming to promote the conversion of fishing vessels and of fishermen that were, up to 1999, dependent on the fishing agreement with Morocco, OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.