WRITTEN QUESTION E-1802/96 by Luigi Colajanni (PSE) and Francesco Baldarelli (PSE) to the Commission (5 July 1996)

Subject: Crisis in the fisheries sector and the activities of 'swordfish boats' in depressed areas

The European Parliament has pointed out the need to discourage the use of 'swordfish boats' and the Commission has submitted a proposal for a regulation banning their use from 1 January 1998. In Italy there was an irrational policy on the part of the Government and the EU, which funded the fitting out of 'swordfish boats' until 1993. The recent US embargo decision, based on unofficial data, which contravenes the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is contrary to Articles III and XI of GATT 1994, has harmed the Italian economy, whilst it has not implemented similar measures against other countries which also use trawls more than 2.5 km long, such as certain Mediterranean countries which are associated with the EU. This encourages the fleet to transfer to third countries working in the same fishing areas as Italy, without any improvement for the environment. In Italy this type of fishing is practised exclusively in depressed areas such as Campania, Calabria and Sicily. Thousands of fishermen risk losing their jobs and 10 000 one-income families are threatened with losing their livelihood, whereas the necessary reduction in fishing effort should take account of the economic impact and fundamental human rights, such as the right to a job and to an adequate standard of living.

Does the Commission not consider it appropriate:

1. to bring about a reform of the common fisheries policy which reconciles environmental safeguards and the need for jobs;

2. to launch a debate, together with the European Parliament, the Council and the governments of the Member States, on the integrated management of the Mediterranean;

3. to commission a special study to ascertain whether or nor there is a point of balance between the economic exploitation of 'swordfish boats' and environmental protection;

4. to introduce immediately, and until 1999, a special plan of action, including a specific programme, making provision for funding to reduce gradually the number of 'swordfish boats', restructuring the sector by means of special measures and implementing retraining policies and creating new activities in the same sector;

5. to devise as soon as possible a voluntary reconversion project and set aside a special additional fund to safeguard the incomes of fishermen and guarantee their families a decent standard of living in the event of the 'swordfish boats' being banned?

Answer by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (6 September 1996)

1. The Commission has introduced consultation machinery to enable it to take account of the socio-economic aspects of fisheries management. The Advisory Committee, convened regularly by the Commission, is made up of representatives of the fisheries sector, and the opinions of that Committee are included in the factors taken into account by the Commission in preparing its proposals. The Commission's proposals on resource management are also examined by the Scientific and Economic Committee for Fisheries, which, in addition to scientific recommendations, provides information on how measures affect economic conditions in the sector and employment.

2. The Commission has already taken steps in this direction. The conference held in Crete in 1993 marked a first, very important move towards developing a management policy for fisheries in the Mediterranean. The Commission has demonstrated its willingness on a number of occasions to discuss the broad lines of the common fisheries policy with Parliament, and is prepared at any stage to attend meetings with Parliament on matters of joint interest.

3. The Commission cannot itself undertake studies or research, but the interaction between fisheries and the environment is given priority in the calls for proposals issued for various studies, such as the fisheries component of the FAIR programme.

4. The Commission has since February 1996 been working with the Italian authorities as part of a joint working party on drawing up a plan for restructuring the Italian 'spadare' fleets and identifying ways of solving the economic and social problem. The plan is being finalized by the national authorities and will soon be officially presented by the Italian Government.

5. The Commission is perfectly aware of the socio-economic importance of the activity of the 'spadare' fleets and the employment problems of the regions where the 'spadare' fleets are the most prevalent. The joint technical working party formed by the Commission and the Italian authorities has taken the social aspects into consideration in drawing up the restructuring plan.