WRITTEN QUESTION E-0761/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Supply of tuna steak to the Community market.
Date: 2000-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU market, Italy, cannery, common fisheries policy, fish product, supply balance sheet

C 26 E/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

of tuna steak (evaluation of the short- and medium-term supply of tuna steak to the Community market).

Does the Commission consider that this study permits a clear evaluation of the economic and social cost
to the Community of opening a tuna steak quota at a reduced rate of duty for third countries?

(2001/C 26 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0761/00

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

(13 March 2000)

Subject: Supply of tuna steak to the Community market

At the Fisheries Council meeting held on 30 March 1999, the Commission undertook to launch a study
with a view to establishing the state of affairs concerning the supply of tuna steak to the Community
market. This study was submitted on 29 November 1999, and presented as a study of demand and supply
of tuna steak (evaluation of the short- and medium-term supply of tuna steak to the Community market).

Can the Commission state why this study in general shows more interest in the tuna processing industry
of a single Member State (Italy) than in the processing industry of the Community as a whole?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0756/00, E-0757/00, E-0758/00,
E-0759/00, E-0760/00 and E-0761/00
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2000)

The Commission considers the study in question to constitute a very detailed short and medium-term
assessment for supply of tuna loins to the Community market. It discharges the Commission(cid:146)s commit-
ment of 30 March 1999.

On the purpose of the study, the first paragraph of its management summary speaks of (cid:145)examining the
supply situation for tuna loins to gain a full picture of the supply chain and its main operators(cid:146). Thus the
scope of the study is clear at the beginning of the document.

The passage to which the Honourable Member refers in his question E-759/00 comes from the last
paragraph of the management summary and sums up the present difficulties affecting supply of the
Community market. The lack of competitiveness found by the study appears particularly marked in the
Italian canning industry owing to its cost structure.

The other matters raised by the Honourable Member in question E-760/00 (economic and social costs),
although strictly speaking non-commercial considerations, were also taken into account in the study. In its
conclusions this points out that economic and social costs affect or are liable to affect Community
enterprises, whether through the difficulties that some are encountering from intra-EU or international
competition or because in the long term full opening of the Community market in tuna loins may well
affect exporting countries at present enjoying a preferential arrangement.

The Honourable Member also says that the study focuses on the Italian canning industry rather than on
the Community industry as a whole. The Commission finds the study well balanced in both its analysis
and conclusions. The analysis covers the main producing and consuming Member States (and non-EU
countries) and the recommendations cover all players in the market.

26.1.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/107

In short, the Commission finds that the study has clarified the current structure and functioning of the
Community market in tuna loins (principal enterprises, supply channels) and its short and medium-term
evolution.

Increasing demand for loins has been met in part by steadily increasing imports into the Community. The
Commission infers that the strong trend in the Community fishery products market of ever-increasing
dependence on raw fish imports also holds good for tuna.

The study also confirms that Community enterprises(cid:146) use of tuna loins as raw material for the canning
industry is helping to improve their competitiveness both inside and outside the Union. It also claims, and
the Commission agrees, that this improvement in competitiveness is all the more necessary in that certain
parts of the Community canning industry will have to make structural adjustments if they are to be viable
in the long term.

Lastly, the Commission notes the existence of a limited but real seasonal supply deficit in the Community
market.

For 2000, as it has done for past years, it proposed a limited quota for tuna loins. The Council has in turn
opened these quotas.

Turning to the medium term, on 17 December 1999 the Council and Commission signed an agreement
whereby an annual 4 000 tonne quota at 6 % duty will be opened for 2001-2003. This will allow
Community canners to make good the abovementioned shortfall and for those enterprises faced with the
need for structural change will facilitate the achievement of greater competitiveness on the Community
and international markets.

(2001/C 26 E/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0762/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(13 March 2000)

Subject: Humanitarian aid to the people of Eritrea

The conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which began in May 1998, has had a high death toll on both
sides and has led to the deportation of tens of thousands of civilians. The European Union should
cooperate with the United Nations to take more effective action in the region, on the one hand to
persuade Ethiopia to fully accept the framework peace agreement drawn up by the OAU, and on the other
to send more humanitarian aid to the peoples that are the victims of this conflict. The European Union has
guaranteed only 40 % of the humanitarian aid requested by the Eritrean authorities and this aid is reaching
its destination with considerable delay.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Does the Commission therefore not consider that the humanitarian aid to the victims of the conflict

should be increased?

2. What action has it taken, or does it intend to take, to expedite the delivery of the aid in question?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2000)

Since the outbreak of hostilities and military confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea the Commission,
in particular through its Humanitarian Office (ECHO), has been very actively involved in providing
assistance to the war-affected populations of Eritrea. The Commission is supporting a wide range of
humanitarian activities in the fields of water and sanitation, supplementary feeding, shelter, distribution of
food and non-food items. This assistance is in particular crucial for some 200 000 displaced people and
deportees gathering in camps.