WRITTEN QUESTION P-1735/00 by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission. Aid for re-engining of fishing vessels.
Date: 2000-05-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, State aid, fishing fleet, fishing regulations, fishing vessel, motor vehicle, sectoral aid

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/83

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

information society(cid:146) (MLIS) and INFO 2000 programmes ended in late
The Community(cid:146)s (cid:145)Multilingual
1999. Having taken account of the results of their interim assessment, and having consulted the Member
States (Infocom Committee) and Parliament (Culture Committee) the Commission has taken steps towards
preparatory action on the joint follow-up to those activities in order to promote European digital content
on the worldwide web.

The budgetary authority has allocated €10M under budget heading B5-344 for the year 2000, which has
enabled a call
for proposals to be launched concerning preparatory activities intended to promote
European digital content on the worldwide web (1) on the three topics specified in order to prepare the
joint follow-up to MLIS and INFO 2000: easing access to venture capital for start-ups and small and
medium-sized businesses (SMBs) whose activities are linked to the Internet; demonstrating how to turn
public-sector information to account; making the linguistic and cultural adaptation of digital products and
services easier.

In parallel to the this the Commission, on 24 May 2000, approved a draft Council decision adopting a
multiannual Community programme intended to spur the development and use of European digital
content on the worldwide web, and to promote linguistic diversity in the information society (2). Useful
information on these activities may be found on Europa (3).

These activities are distinct from those initiated by the Directorate-General for Education and Culture, but
will be conducted in close coordination with the latter. The preparatory activities begun, which will
represent a significant contribution towards promoting linguistic and cultural diversity in the information
society, could, in particular, illustrate the events planned as part of the European Year of Languages.

Finally, as regards the languages covered, the activities proposed could include action on any language,
more especially minority and regional, where so justified by their aims.

(1) http://www.cordis.lu/econtent.
(2) COM(2000) 323.
(3) http://europa.eu.int/com/information society/policy/index fr.htm.

(2001/C 81 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1735/00

by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission

(20 May 2000)

Subject: Aid for re-engining of fishing vessels

Council Regulation (EC) 2792/1999 (1) of 17 December 1999 lays down the detailed rules and arrange-
ments regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector.

The Regulation establishes a framework for all measures to be carried out in the fisheries sector, one of the
clear objectives of which is the preservation and long-term viability of aquatic resources.

Article 6 of the Regulation deals with the arrangements for fleet renewal and modernisation of fishing
vessels, stipulating that entries and exits from the fleet are to be managed in such a way that the capacity
does not exceed the annual objectives fixed in the multiannual guidance programme, for the whole fleet
and for the segments concerned.

Paragraph 2 of the same article states that (cid:145)Member States can submit a request for a clearly identified and
quantified increase in the capacity objectives for measures to improve safety, navigation at sea, hygiene,
product quality and working conditions provided that these measures do not result in an increase in the
exploitation rate of the resources concerned(cid:146).

C 81 E/84

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

In France, however, aid for re-engining of existing working vessels has been suspended for the present on
the basis of an interpretation of Article 6(1), with no account being taken of paragraph 2. How could one
possibly reduce the power of a trawler of over 12 metres by 30 % without jeopardising safety on the vessel
and without bringing about an impairment in working conditions? Furthermore, maintaining power does
not entail an increase in the exploitation rate, but simply maintains it at the same level. There is no
question of new capacity being created.

Re-engining with no increase in capacity, which is a necessary component in vessel safety, seems to me to
fall within the definition of modernisation eligible for Community aid. I should like the Commission to
clarify this point, since the way the Regulation is currently interpreted in France heavily penalises small-
scale fishing activities along the French Atlantic coast, imperilling the economic balance of our fishing
ports, which have already been seriously affected by previous reductions in the fleet and are directly
affected at present by the Erika oil slick.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules
and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (1) allows the granting
of public aid for the renewal and modernisation of vessels belonging to segments of the fleet that have not
respected the objectives of the multi-annual guidance programmes (MAGP) provided that the the global
objectives of the MAGP have been respected and that during the years 2000 (cid:129) 2001 any capacity entered
with public aid must be compensated by the withdrawal without public aid of a capacity at least 30 %
greater than that introduced in the segment concerned, taken in aggregate and in terms of both tonnage
and power.

These provisions require that the entry of new capacity with public aid be compensated by the withdrawal
of capacity without public aid at the level of the segment, not at the level of individual vessels. The
replacement of an engine with public aid does not therefore require a reduction in the power of the
individual vessel concerned, but rather a reduction in the power of the segment as a whole before the end
of 2001.

In this respect there need not be a deterioration in safety or working conditions aboard the vessels
benefiting from public aid. It is also pointed out that the replacement of an engine with one of equal
power can be considered a normal operational cost, which if met in full by the vessel owner rather than
benefiting from public aid would not require the withdrawal of a 30 % greater capacity from the segment.

Where the segment objectives have been met, public aid can be granted for engine replacements without
the requirement to withdraw a greater capacity in compensation. The Honourable Member is reminded
that access to public aid for fleet renewal and modernisation where the segment objectives have not been
met is a temporary provision of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 that is subject to the strict conditions
agreed by the Council.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2001/C 81 E/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1742/00

by Mary Honeyball (PSE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Closure of the Ford plant at Dagenham

What European funding will be available to minimise job losses at Ford(cid:146)s Dagenham, London, plant?