WRITTEN QUESTION E-2005/99 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) and Rosa Díez González (PSE) to the Commission. Replacement of drift nets.
Date: 1999-11-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: fishing net, fishing regulations, sea fish

C 219 E/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Point 14 of the draft also states that (cid:145)the transnational cooperation proposals should build on the
experience of Interreg IIC(cid:146). The Commission will therefore ask the Member States to give priority to
continuing the cooperation arrangements which proved fruitful under Interreg IIC and to set up those for
which the initial study phase is finished. It is indeed desirable that recommendations made under Interreg
IIC should be translated into action and take concrete form under Interreg III.

On the basis of experience gained in particular with Interreg IIC, the Commission has made a proposal for
geographical groupings in the guidelines. It is up to the Member States to make specific, duly motivated
and justified proposals on this basis according to their priorities.

(1) COM(1999) 479 final.

(2000/C 219 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2005/99

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) and Rosa D(cid:237)ez GonzÆlez (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Replacement of drift nets

Council Regulation 1239/98 (1) prohibiting the use of drift nets from 2002 states that there must be a
gradual reduction in the use of these nets by fleets currently using them. No more than 60 % of fishing
boats which used one or more drift nets during the period 1995 to 1997 would be allowed to use them in
1998.

The regulation also obliged Member States to provide the Commission with a list of those boats authorised
to fish with drift nets by 31 July 1998.

Given the tensions that the use of these nets tends to generate in the fleets fishing in the Bay of Biscay and
reports from various fishermen(cid:146)s organisations in the area indicating that nothing like the planned gradual
reduction has occurred, would the Commission honour statements made by President Prodi and the
undertaking given by Commissioner Fischler to the Committee on Fisheries to provide reliable, transparent
information to this Parliament, and answer the following question:

What are the figures on boats operating in the area which have used drift nets from 1995 to the present
given to the Commission by Member States in accordance with Regulation 1239/98, or compiled
internally?

What figures does the Commission have on developments in coastal fishing for albacore tuna in 1998 and
1999 as regards catch, nets used and the level of stocks in ICES areas 5b, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a and 10a? What
boats from which countries have fished in these zones during the two years in question?

Would the Commission give details of compliance with the ICCAT recommendation on the fishing effort
for albacore tuna?

(1) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 1999)

The Honourable Members are requested to refer to the answers given to written questions P-1537/99 (1)
and P-2067/99 (2) by Mrs Fraga EstØvez and E-1945/99 (3) by Mr Varela Suanzes-Carpegna.

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/67

The Commission would point out that it takes an active part in the work of the International Commission
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and of its Standing Committee on Research and Statistics
(SCRS), which, following its meeting on 11 to 15 October 1999, has drawn up a report evaluating the
state of the various stocks, including the target species for drift netting: the albacore.

(1) OJ C 170 E, 20.6.2000.
(2)
(3) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 94.

See page 82.

(2000/C 219 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2011/99

by Gilles Savary (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Transitional period between the two programming periods for the Structural Funds

Given the time necessary for consultation and negotiation between the Member States and the Commission
for national programming for the Structural Funds for 2000-2006, what will be the situation on the
ground during the transitional period between the end of the current programming period (1994-1999)
and the beginning of the next one?

Would it be possible for outstanding balances to be carried forward and used on the basis of the old
arrangements until the new ones come into force?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

The end of the current programming period will proceed normally in four successive stages, which will
mark the closure of the 1994-1999 programmes: 31 December 1999 is the deadline for commitments on
the ground relating to eligible operations; 31 December 2001 is the deadline for payments corresponding
to eligible operations committed to on the ground before 31 December 1999; 30 June 2002 is the
deadline for the Member States to declare the payments they have made; during 2002 and at the beginning
of 2003 the Commission will pay the balances to the Member States.

At the same time, the programmes for the new 2000-2006 programming period will be adopted as from
in view of the current state of preparation, the first programmes or single
1 January 2000. In fact,
programming documents (under Objective 1) cannot be adopted before the end of March 2000.

However, the eligibility of the operations begins with the presentation of these programming documents to
the Commission by the Member State. Moreover, if the Member State submits a request for assistance to
the Commission between 1 January and 30 April 2000, the associated expenditure can be considered
eligible for a contribution from the Funds as from 1 January 2000 (Article 52(4) of Regulation 1260/99).
Member States can consequently start operations as of now in respect of the new programming period.
Independently of the dates on which decisions are taken on the new programmes, there are therefore real
possibilities for transition between one programming period and another.

(2000/C 219 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2012/99

by Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Tax deductibility of commission

Can the Commission ascertain and provide information on whether internal revenue authorities of EU
countries may give tax deductible status to additional commission expenses that a company pays to
unnamed third parties that do not reside in that company(cid:146)s country?