WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2394/97 by Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ to the Commission. Adoption of commercial measures against Honduras and Panama concerning imports of bluefin tuna
Date: 1997-07-10
Institutions: European Parliament, FRAGA ESTEVEZ
Subjects: Belize, Honduras, Panama, conservation of fish stocks, fishing regulations, import restriction, recommendation, sea fish

3. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 102/37

How  does  the  Commission  view  the  possibility  of  promoting  the  construction  of  a  railway  line  along  the
Via Ignatia starting from the port of Igoumenitsa and stretching as far as the Turkish border, which would also
allow transport from the Middle East to pass through the port Volus, so as to give fresh impetus to trade in the
Balkan region, a development which would undoubtably benefit EU interests in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 1997)

Investments in rail infrastructure in Greece part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the
Cohesion Fund in the period 1994-99 focus on adding a second track to and electrifying the Athens-Thessaloniki
line. Improvements to the Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli line are also being part-financed.

As  regards  the  possible  construction  of  a  new  link  to  Igoumenitsa  to  create  a  (cid:145)Via  Ignatia  railway  line(cid:146),  in
principle this should be examined and analysed with the Greek authorities when the dossiers for infrastructure
investments to be part-financed in the period 2000-06 are prepared.

(98/C 102/53)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2394/97

by Carmen Fraga Este·vez (PPE) to the Commission

(10 July 1997)

Subject: Adoption of commercial measures against Honduras and Panama concerning imports of bluefin tuna

At  its  annual  meeting  in  November  1996  ICCAT  adopted  a  recommendation  prohibiting  the  importation  of
bluefin tuna caught by Belize and Honduras. This recommendation, which is binding on the contracting parties,
was backed by France, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom as members of ICCAT.

Since commercial policy is the exclusive competence of the EC, the Member States affected by this obligation
cannot implement it until the EC transposes the recommendation into a Community Regulation, which so far has
not happened.

Since  the  recommendation  is  due  to  enter  into  force  this  August,  can  the  Commission  say  why  it  has  not
submitted a proposal for a Regulation and what those Member States which are contracting parties can do to
comply with the obligations deriving from their membership of ICCAT?

(98/C 102/54)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2422/97

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

(11 July 1997)

Subject: Adoption by the Commission of the ICCAT recommendations

At  its  last  annual  assembly  the  International  Commission  for  the  Conservation  of  Atlantic  Tuna  (ICCAT)
adopted a recommendation on banning imports of bluefin tuna from Honduras, Belize and Panama until those
countries give proof that they are following the ICCAT(cid:146)s recommendations.

Why has the Commission not taken any steps in connection with those recommendations?

When does the Commission intend to take such steps, bearing in mind that the deadline expires on 4 August
1997?

When does the Commission intend to adopt the other measures decided on by the ICCAT in respect of bluefin
tuna, such as the ban on using fishing lines in vessels over 24 m in length or the ban on the use of aircraft?