WRITTEN QUESTION E-1946/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ban on unloading EU catches in Chile.
Date: 1999-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Chile, World Trade Organisation, deep-sea fishing, international negotiations, international trade, trade restriction

C 219 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

In most Member States, the universal service operator is obliged to provide services on a common tariff
and quality basis throughout the territory. Therefore, even if the designated operator only faces competi-
tion in part of the territory, the positive impact in terms of price and quality is transferred uniformly to
other areas.

the Commission is currently surveying in detail

In addition,
the availability and use, quality and
affordability of advanced telecommunications services by residential and business users in all the regions
of the Community (1).

(1)

The (cid:145)Survey study on the situation of telecommunications services in the regions of the Community(cid:146) is being
undertaken by EOS Gallup. This study is currently in progress and results are expected by the end of 1999.

(2000/C 219 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1946/99

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

(4 November 1999)

Subject: Ban on unloading EU catches in Chile

Given the problems which Community fishing fleets are experiencing because of the continued Chilean
ban on offloading and transferring fish in Chilean ports (cid:129) a situation which constitutes a straightforward
obstacle to trade violating articles V and XI.1 of the 1994 GATT (cid:129) can the Commission tell me what
measures it has taken to persuade the Chilean authorities to lift the ban?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 1999)

in the
Following the lodging of a complaint by the Spanish long-line vessel association (ANAPA)
framework of the Trade barriers regulation (TBR), Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 of 22 December
1994 laying down Community procedures in the field of common commercial policy in order to ensure
the exercise of the Community(cid:146)s rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under
the auspices of the World trade organisation (WTO) (1), the Commission initiated an investigation. The
report of this investigation indicates the Chilean legislation is not compatible with Chile(cid:146)s obligations under
the WTO.

The TBR report advocated several alternative courses of action. Firstly it suggested opening bilateral
negotiations with Chile in order to achieve a short term agreement on the immediate question of transit,
to be followed by a long term, multilateral, agreement on the conservation and management measures for
swordfish in the South East Pacific area. Secondly it suggested opening a dispute settlement procedure in
the framework of the WTO, or alternatively resorting to the International tribunal in Hamburg for an
interpretation of the United Nations Convention of the law of the sea provisions.

Subsequently, bilateral negotiations have been initiated with Chile, without excluding resort
to the
WTO/Unclos alternatives. These bilateral negotiations continue but have not yet shown any major
progress. The Commission is currently assessing the overall situation.

(1) OJ L 349, 31.12.1994.