WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3430/97 by Johannes SWOBODA to the Council. Political, economic and ecological effects of the disastrous fires in Indonesia
Date: 1997-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, SWOBODA
Subjects: EU aid, Indonesia, degradation of the environment, ecology, economic consequence, environmental protection, fire, forest, international aid

C 158/108

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25. 5. 98

(98/C 158/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3425/97

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission

(31 October 1997)

Subject: Norwegian salmon farms in the Tana Fjord

The  Norwegian  State  has  granted  permits,  contrary  to  the  recommendations  of  the  regional  environmental
authorities and the Finnish-Norwegian border waters commission, for the rearing of salmon in the Tana Fjord in
bag-shaped netting enclosures. This authorization for the rearing of salmon in the Tana Fjord is all the more
surprising since the Norwegian State, in conjunction with the Norwegian environmental protection organization,
demanded the closure of the fish farming establishment at Inari (Finland) on the grounds that it posed a threat to
the naturally occurring strain of salmon in the Tenojoki (Tana) river. The Finnish State did in fact close the Inari
fish farm.

In the light of the above the Norwegian State has shown great irresponsibility in permitting the farming of fish in
netting enclosures in the Tana Fjord. Such installations increase the risk of spreading fish diseases and impairing
the genome quality of the naturally occurring Tenojoki salmon. The Norwegians(cid:146) activities pose a threat not only
to the natural Tenojoki salmon, but also to livelihoods in the fishing and tourist industries in the Tenojoki valley.
The destruction of the natural salmon stock would have incalculable consequences for the whole valley.

What measures can the Commission take to clarify the fishery situation in the Tenojoki and to protect the natural
Tenojoki salmon and the whole of the Tenojoki valley from destruction?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 1997)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  Written  Question  P-2907/97  by
Mrs Hautala (1).

(1)  OJ C 134, 30.4.1998, p. 35.

(98/C 158/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3430/97

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Council

(3 November 1997)

Subject: Political, economic and ecological effects of the disastrous fires in Indonesia

Various sections of the media have drawn attention to the connection between deliberate clearance by burning
for  the  benefit  of  large  companies,  in  particular  the  palm  oil  industry,  the  personal  economic  interests  of
President Suharto and his family and the recent large-scale fires with their attendant environmental effects.

To what extent is the Council considering these accusations against the Indonesian government and what steps is
the  Council  taking  to  prevent  such  large-scale  fires  in  future,  which  have  devastating  environmental
consequences and drive out and destroy small farmers?

Answer

(26 January 1998)

At the ASEM Economic Ministers(cid:146) Meeting at Makuhari in Japan on 30 September 1997, Ministers from the
European Union Member States, the President of the Council and the Commission exchanged views with the
Asian countries (including Indonesia) on the problem of fires. Ministers stressed the importance of interregional
cooperation and solidarity in preventing and mitigating the effects of major environmental phenomenas such as
forest fires and floods.