WRITTEN QUESTION No. 77/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Driftnets
Date: 1998-01-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: United Kingdom, common fisheries policy, fishing net, fishing regulations

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/103

Answer

(11 May 1998)

The  reasons  for  the  influx  of  migrants  from  and  through  Turkey  are  complex.  Therefore,  further  analysis  is
required. As far as Iraq is concerned, a combination of political and economic factors appear to be involved: the
long-standing rivalry between the two main Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, cross-border operations conducted
by  Turkish  forces  against  the  PKK  organization,  economic  insecurity,  and  the  repressive  policies  of
Saddam Hussein. As far as migration from Turkey itself is concerned, the long-running conflict in south-east
Turkey  between  the  Turkish  security  forces  and  the  PKK  has  resulted  in  a  large  scale  displacement  of  rural
populations  and  depression  of  the  regional  economy.  A  growing  number  of  migrants  coming  from/through
Turkey are neither of Turkish nor Iraqi nationality, but from third countries in Asia or Africa.

The Council recognises that a key element in tackling the problem is to establish effective cooperation with the
Turkish government. Close collaboration with the UNHCR is also essential. The Presidency is pursuing these
contacts actively.

In this context it has to be noted that the Turkish attitude towards the Kurdish minority will be a determining
factor for the future development of EU-Turkish relations.

The  General  Affairs  Council  on  30  March  reviewed  the  overall  implementation  of  a  46-point  action  plan
approved by the General Affairs Council on 26 January 1998 in order to deal with this problem and concluded
that  overall  implementation  was  proceeding  satisfactorily.  The  Council  does  not  intend  to  send  observers  to
south-eastern Turkey or northern Iraq but it does benefit from the information collected during fact-finding visits
by representatives of Member States to the region.

(98/C 223/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0073/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Export of live cattle to third countries

Further  to  Mr  Fischler(cid:146)s  answer  to  Written  Question  E-3253/97 (1)  given  on  behalf  of  the  Commission  on
7  November  1997,  could  the  Commission  now  say  how  much  was  paid  out  in  export  refunds  for  live  cattle
exports to third countries in the period 16 October 1996 to 15 October 1997?

(1)  OJ C 134, 30.4.1998, p. 127.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 1998)

In the period between 16 October 1996 and 15 October 1997, a provisional figure indicates that 134.9 MECU was
granted in export subsidies for live animals. For 1997, an estimate based on licence applications, indicates that
the Community exported 271 483 animals.

(98/C 223/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0077/98

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(30 January 1998)

Subject: Driftnets

During  negotiations  for  the  UN  General  Assembly  late  last  year,  the  European  Commission(cid:146)s  representative
would not approve of a motion calling for the confiscation and destruction of illegal driftnets. The representative
claimed that the Commission had only agreed to seek a ban on driftnets, not their destruction.