WRITTEN QUESTION P-2464/99 by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission. Drift net fishing.
Date: 1999-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid for restructuring, fishing net, fishing regulations, fishing vessel, sea fish

C 219 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

during a journey through two or more Member States. The prior authorisation of the Member States
concerned must normally be entered on the pass. By way of derogation, hunters with firearms classified in
categories C and D according to Annex I to the Directive and marksmen with firearms in categories B,
C and D may, without prior authorisation, be in possession of one or more firearms during a journey
through two or more Member States with a view to engaging in their activities, provided that they are in
possession of a European firearms pass listing such firearm or firearms and provided that they are able to
substantiate the reasons for their journey, in particular by producing an invitation.

The Commission is keen to point out that the European firearms pass differs in purpose from documents
issued by the national authorities of the Member States with regard to the use of firearms, especially
hunting weapons referred to by the honourable Member. In fact, the purpose of the European firearms
pass is to facilitate journeys of Community citizens with their weapons between two or more Member
States. The national documents that are required by the Member States refer to the possession and
inasmuch as the citizens in question are
especially the use of these weapons in each Member State,
engaged in their activities in the territory of a Member State.

As part of recent consultations by the Commission with the authorities of the Member States as well as
with the parties involved, and with a view to the report that the Commission will present to the Council
and Parliament in 2000, it seems that the European firearms pass is an essential part of the scheme
introduced by Directive 91/477/EEC, which has been welcomed by all the parties involved particularly
with regard to facilitating the intra-Community journeys of hunters and marksmen. The report that has
been mentioned will devote a part of its findings to the operation of the European firearms pass.

(1) OJ L 256, 13.9.1991.

(2000/C 219 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2464/99

by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Drift net fishing

The European Union has decided to ban the use of drift nets from 31 December 2001 for tuna fishing in
the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

The European Union has provided for financial aid under the new regulatory framework in order to enable
vessels to be converted for use with other fishing gear. Following a series of studies carried out by the
fishing industry,
it appears that vessels equipped for tuna fishing using drift nets cannot easily be
converted for use with other fishing gear. Fisherman are therefore faced with the prospect of having to
build new vessels that are more suited to the regulatory changes being introduced in the industry.

In this specific case, will the Commission consider the possibility, for the building of suitable vessels, of a
specific allocation of kilowatts being made on an exceptional basis for the equipment concerned, which
would of course be complementary and additional to the existing fishing vessel building programme?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2000)

On 22 November 1999 the Fisheries Council reached an agreement on the Regulation laying down the
detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, which
sets the conditions on which a Member State may renew and modernise its fishing fleet, with or without
public aid.