WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 July 2002)

Subject: European regions dependent on fisheries

In his answer to Written Question E-0650/02(1) of 12 April 2002, Commissioner Fischler acknowledges that there were defects in the analysis of the degree of dependency on fisheries of European coastal regions and that the Commission would continue improving the methodology (sic).

In practical terms, for this purpose, Mr Fischler indicated that a Community research project had been launched (QLTR-2000-02277: Elaboration et application d'un modèle calculable d'équilibre général à l'analyse de la contribution des activités halieutiques au développement régional, as well as a methodological study to establish socio-economic indicators to determine the relative importance of the fishery sector in the regions or zones most dependent on fisheries, with the aim of evaluating and comparing the impact of other management measures on the economic development of these regions or zones.

Does not the Commission consider that these projects should be carried out prior to the reform of the CFP in order to take account of all the data needed to carry it out with greater precision?

The Commissioner went on to say that it was necessary to await the results of these studies before deciding what further steps to take on the subject.

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in these studies?

If they have been completed, can it say what conclusions were reached and what measures will be adopted on the basis of them?

If not, when are the studies expected to be completed?

Can the Commission say whether it has already adopted any other initiative to improve its methodology in this area?

Can the Commission say whether the current work will have any impact on the reform which is awaiting approval by the EP and the Council?

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 114.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2096/02 and E-2097/02given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

A detailed evaluation of employment and of the level of dependency on fishing of European regions was the aim of a series of 22 regional studies concluded in early 2000.

A co-ordination and consolidation study was conducted simultaneously, which included among other tasks:

- quantifying, describing and examining the level of regional dependency on fishing in the Community;

- examining the development of fishing employment and dependency since 1990.

The results of these tasks appear in the final report for this co-ordination and consolidation study which can be downloaded, as mentioned in Commission response to written question E-0650/02 by the Honourable Member(1), from the following address http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/doc_et_publ/liste_publi/results.html. The major conclusions drawn by the contractors responsible for this study are presented in its executive summary which can also be downloaded from the same internet address, in pages 4 to 12 for the first of these two tasks, and 13 to 16 for the second one.

The concept of fisheries dependence is defined in Article 4.8. of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999(2) dealing with structural aid to the fisheries sector in Objective 2 regions. It does not appear in Council regulations such as those dealing with the allocation of fishing opportunities at Community level and their subdivision into national quotas allocated between Member States.

There is no conceptual difference, the Commission would be aware of, between a region highly dependent upon fishing and a region very dependent upon fishing.

The concept of fisheries dependence was introduced in the Council regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 after Spain and Portugal had become members. The dependence upon fishing of coastal areas which is of relevance to the definition to Objective 2 areas was thus taken into account by these two Member States when conforming to Article 4(3) and 4(4) of this Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, these two Member States and the Commission drew up the list of areas eligible under Objective 2.

Research project (QLRT-2000-2277) Elaboration et application d'un modèle calculable d'équilibre général à l'analyse de la contribution des activités halieutiques au développement régional (Developing and testing a general equilibrium model to estimate the contribution of fisheries activities to regional development), has started on 1 February 2002. It should last for 36 months and the relevant final report should not be available until early 2005, although intermediate results might become available much earlier. This research project aims at assessing and refining the methodology used for the regional socio-economic studies, and later to define new tools and models to assess the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to regional development. A similar type of methodological assessment was conducted after the previous batch of regional socio-economic studies in the early 1990's. Such methodological assessments are quite characteristic of the research process and should be repeated to ensure that the most up-to-date tools are used but they cannot be used as mere excuses to delay the integration of available scientific information in the policy making process.

As for the methodological study to establish socio-economic indicators to determine the relative importance of the fishery sector in the regions or zones most dependent on fisheries, with the aim of evaluating and comparing the impact of other management measures on the economic development of these regions or zones, it should be concluded before the end of 2002. The relevant results of this study could therefore be taken into account in the drafting of the Commission communication on the socio-economic impact of the the restructuring of the fisheries sector. This study also includes

methodological aspects dealing in particular with the statistical analysis of regional socio-economic data and the improvement of the coherence between such data. These methodological aspects will be of long tern rather than short term interest.

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 114.

(2) Council regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.