WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3089/97 by Antonio TAJANI to the Commission. Seizure of Italian fishing boats by Tunisia
Date: 1997-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, TAJANI
Subjects: Italy, Tunisia, fishing vessel, freedom of navigation, international law, international waters, law of the sea, maritime safety, seizure of goods

C 117/150

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 1997)

The decision of the United Kingdom government concerning VAT receipts from the sale of the recording of
Candle in the Wind is praiseworthy. It is not possible under Community VAT legislation to exempt arbitrarily
any goods from VAT. The Commission understands that a grant of corresponding value will be made to charity,
so formally it will be a donation from the government.

The  Commission  is  very  active  in  the  political  campaign  for  a  total  ban  on  anti-personnel  landmines  and  is
among the world’s leading sponsors of mine clearance and related work, including assistance to mine victims. In
the  past  five  years  over  MECU 100  of  Community  funds  have  been  devoted  to  this  cause.  However  as  the
Honourable Member will be aware, Community VAT legislation does not allow the Commission simply to pay
VAT revenue over to charities. In any event the Community budget receives only a part of the VAT revenues
collected in a Member State (about 1/17th in the case in the United Kingdom).

(98/C 117/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3089/97

by Antonio Tajani (UPE) to the Commission

(19 September 1997)

Subject: Seizure of Italian fishing boats by Tunisia

At the end of July and in August 1997 three Italian fishing boats operating in international waters in the Sicilian
Channel  were  involved  in  serious  acts  of  armed  intimidation  and  seized  by  the  Tunisian  coastguard.  Such
incidents, which unfortunately occur with alarming frequency, again raise the question of the need to guarantee
freedom of navigation and fishing rights in international waters in the area and to protect Italian fishermen who
are legitimately carrying our their activities but whose personal safety is periodically seriously endangered.

What will the Commission do to ensure that Community fishermen are safe and international law complied with
in the Sicilian Channel as soon as possible?

What stage has been reached in the negotiations for the accession of the European Union to the General Council
for fishing in the Mediterranean, a body which could guarantee adoption of and compliance with common rules
to protect fishing activities in the Mediterranean?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 1997)

The Commission has not been notified by Italy of the events to which the Honourable Member refers but has
always firmly demanded respect by all countries for the international law of the sea and condemns all acts of
violence imperilling vessel safety.

Against  this  background  the  Commission  would  remind  the  Honourable  Member  that  there  is  no  fisheries
agreement  between  the  Community  and  Tunisia  and  that  the  incidents  apparently  occurred  in  international
waters.

At its 22nd plenary session, held from 13 to 16 October 1997 in Rome, the General Fisheries Council for the
Mediterranean adopted amendments to its constituting Agreement that permit the Community’s admission as a
full member. With a view to its adoption at the earliest date the Commission is closely monitoring progress in the
Council of the proposed Regulation on Community membership.