WRITTEN QUESTION E-3985/97 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (14 January 1998)

Subject: Competitiveness of the Community fish-canning industry

The Community fish-canning industry is both one of the most traditional and one of the most modern and competitive in the world. It is no secret that the Community industry must tackle a series of challenges in order to maintain and, if possible, strengthen its international competitiveness.

These challenges include the health and hygiene and environmental impact of third-country products and cheaper labour in non-Community countries, the dependence on imported raw materials, the European and world dimension of its markets and its heavy dependence on capital and continual modernization, in order to improve processes and equipment as much as possible in the interests of competitiveness and internationalization. To this end the Commission, in various documents, has identified a series of measures to be developed by industries, the Commission and the Member States. These include: measures to improve the regulatory framework, to ensure real competitiveness, to strengthen intangible investments and to develop industrial cooperation.

1. Has the Commission carried out a thorough scientifically based cost-benefit analysis of the impact of Community regulations on the labelling and consumption of canned fishery products? Is so, can it say what the results were? If not, is it willing to carry out such an analysis?

2. Could the Commission propose real liberalization of trade with countries with emerging economies and look for alternatives to correct the distortions caused at various levels of protection by the current regulations governing the health and hygiene and environmental aspects?

3. Does the Commission not consider that training might be improved, by promoting better cooperation between industry, centres for innovation and technology and other social partners?

4. In drawing up the Fifth Community R & TD Framework Programme does the Commission consider that the needs and priorities of the fish-canning sector should be taken into consideration? Should not cooperation between the industry and the various institutes and centres for research, innovation and technological development be stepped up?

5. Furthermore, the sector has called for the creation of programmes or the conclusion of voluntary agreements on the part of the fishery product processing and canning industry to supplement or go beyond the minimum levels required in existing regulations. What does the Commission think?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998)

1. The Commission has not, so far, carried out an analysis of the type recommended by the Honourable Member. Nor does such analysis figure among the Commission's main priorities.

2. The Commission considers that the challenge of globalisation increases the need for enhanced international cooperation in the field of health and safety at work. A solid body of Community health and safety legislation has been built up over the past decade and the Commission is working towards encouraging non-Member countries to improve their legislation with a view to approximating Community standards.

3. The Commission encourages training for workers in the canning industry with the aim not only of improving product quality and the performance of Community undertakings but also of increasing awareness of the constraints imposed on this sector under the health and hygiene and environmental directives. Synergy between the various measures carried out by industry, research and technological development centres and the two sides of industry can also contribute to such training.

One of the objectives of the FAIR research programme is to promote and facilitate industry's participation in research and technological development (RTD) activities by industry, and in particular to involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Technology stimulation measures (TSMs) for SMEs have been included in the programme for precisely this purpose. Industry increasingly participates in calls for proposals for shared cost and joint action projects in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

4. The Commission proposal for the fifth framework programme is at present under discussion by the Council and Parliament, and does include proposals on food science. The objectives of the Commission's proposal for the fifth framework programme for research and technological development (1998-2002) ((COM(97) 142 final. )) are to enhance European research potential and to help ensure that European research serves the Community's economic and social objectives. The revised proposal of 14 January 1998 ((COM(98) 8 final. )) includes a key action entitled 'Health, food and environmental factors' which aims to ensure a safe, healthy, balanced and varied food supply for Europe's consumers and strengthen the competitiveness of the European food industry. The needs and priorities of the fish-canning industry have therefore been fully considered. The proposed key action will also reinforce co-operation between industry and research organisations.

5. The Commission welcomes the efforts of the fisheries sector to go beyond the minimum levels required in existing legislation, as it declared in its communication on the future for the market in fisheries products ((COM(97) 719 final. )), thereby introducing this issue into the debate on measures needed to promote improved productivity in the industry.