WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2070/96 by Honório NOVO to the Commission. Payment of an indemnity for Portuguese fishermen
Date: 1996-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, NOVO
Subjects: EU financial instrument, Morocco, Portugal, cessation of trading, competence of the Member States, financing policy, fisherman, fishing agreement, fishing rights, indemnification













EUR-Lex - 91996E2070 - EN






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91996E2070

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2070/96 by Honório NOVO to the Commission. Payment of an indemnity for Portuguese fishermen  


Official Journal C 385 , 19/12/1996 P. 0090 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-2070/96 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (16 July 1996)Subject: Payment of an indemnity for Portuguese fishermenBy its Decision 95/451/EC ((OJ L 264, 7.11.1995, p. 28. )) of 26 October 1995 the Council approved a Commission proposal to grant an indemnity to fishermen who had had to suspend their fishing activities in the waters of Morocco (COM(95) 69 final).In accordance with that Decision, all fishermen affected in this way were to receive an indemnity as follows:- from 1.5.1995 to 31.8.1995: ECU 454 per month (around Esc 90 000 per month)- from 1.9.1995 to 31.12.1995: ECU 620 per month (around Esc 120 000 per month).During the debate on the new fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco at the part-session in Strasbourg in April 1996 I asked the Commissioner what the procedure was for paying these indemnities in Portugal. At that time the Commissioner replied that she was unaware of the situation but that she would seek information from the Portuguese authorities.As I have not yet received any information from the Commissioner, I have decided to pursue the matter through a written question.According to information to which I have had access, the Portuguese Government paid all the amounts due to the fishermen during the second period of forced inactivity, i.e. between 1.9.1995 and 30.11.1995 (when fishing resumed). With regard to the period from 1.5.1995 to 31.8.1995, the Portuguese Government paid only Esc 52 000 per man per month in a first stage; it later paid a further Esc 18 832 per man per month under an order dated 19 April 1996. Thus the Portuguese Government still owes all those fishermen who had to suspend fishing activities in Morocco around Esc 18 000 per month for the first four months of this period.Is the Commission now in a position to confirm this information? If the above figures are correct, what urgent action will the Commission take to ensure that Portuguese fishermen receive the indemnity in full, bearing in mind that their Spanish colleagues, for example, received the full amount some time ago?Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (5 September 1996)In accordance with Article 4 of Council Decision 95/451/EC of 26 October 1995, ((OJ L 264, 7 November 1995. )) Portugal drew up a two-part plan of action.- Part I (1 May-31 August 1995) provided for payment to fishermen of an indemnity of Esc. 70 070 per man/month.- Part II (1 September-30 November 1995) provided for larger payments - Esc. 120 000 per man/month.During the same two periods shipowners were entitled to a temporary laying-up premium under Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 3699/93. ((OJ L 346, 31 December 1993. ))It is up to the Member States themselves to ensures that the rules are complied with and indemnities duly paid.