WRITTEN QUESTION P-1773/00 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Application of Regulation 1587/98.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Azores, application of EU law, document, fishery product, island region, peripheral region, sales aid

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/91

(2001/C 81 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1773/00

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Application of Regulation 1587/98

Council Regulation No 1587/98 (1), implemented by Commission Regulation No 2844/98 (2), extended to
demersal fishing the support scheme for fishermen in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, which
previously only applied to tuna intended for processing, in order to cope with the increased costs of this
activity incurred as a result of the region(cid:146)s remoteness.

Most of the demersal species caught in the region are sent to other islands in the archipelago, to the
Portuguese mainland, to other destinations in the European Union or are exported, whilst part of
production is consumed on the island where it is caught.

In accordance with the law the demersal species caught off the Azores have to be sold at auction, although
the fishermen do not know what the final destination of the fish is. In accordance with the rules of the
single market, only exported fish has to be registered with the competent customs authorities.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned regulations do not lay down any requirement for the allocation of the
subsidy other than the condition that the quantity and the species must be certified and the quantitative
limits for allocation of the subsidy must be observed.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. whether it does not consider that certification by the competent authority, Lota(cid:231)or, of the quantity
and species of fish caught is sufficient evidence for payment to the fishermen, under the terms of the
above-mentioned regulations?

2. whether it also considers it necessary to prove that the fish is sent outside island territory? If so, on

the basis of what legislation and according to what procedures can this be certified?

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 354, 30.12.1998, p. 53.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2000)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1587/98 of 17 July 1998 introducing a scheme to compensate for the
additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary
Islands and the French departments of Guyana and RØunion as a result of those regions(cid:146) remoteness is
designed to enable economic operators there to enjoy similar conditions to their counterparts in mainland
Europe; under the scheme, compensation is paid in respect of product quantities actually shipped outside
those regions.

In answer to the questions about economic operators in the Azores, it should be pointed out that:

1.

In accordance with Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2844/98 of 22 December 1998
laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 1587/98, the regional govern-
ment of the Azores adopted appropriate provisions to ensure compliance with the requirements for
implementing the system.

Those provisions require recipients to submit documentary evidence of the quantities and species
caught (see annexes to the relevant regional legislation). Payments are made on thebasis of individual
applications drawn up using that documentation.

C 81 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

2. The scheme is designed to compensate for the proven additional costs incurred in marketing products
outside the region. Accordingly, Article 3 of the relevant regional
legislation stipulates that the
destination markets are to be the other Member States, the United States and Canada. The annexes
to that legislation also state that firms exporting products covered by the scheme must submit a
number of specific documents, including the shippingcompany(cid:146)s invoice and the bill of lading or
international dispatch note.

(2001/C 81 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1778/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Freedom of the press in Russia

Does the Commission believe that the search carried out by the FSB (former KGB) in the offices of the
independent MediaMost Press Group is an indication of a new climate, 10 years after the fall of the Berlin
Wall and some years after the abolition of Communism in Russia?

Is it concerned about this attack on the freedom of the press, against MediaMost and its television station
NTV, whose President, Vladimir Goussinsky, is also an important director of the Russian Jewish Commun-
ity?

Will the Commission urge the Russian President Vladimir Putin to guarantee freedom of expression and to
denounce such practices, unacceptable in a state which is governed by the rule of law, is a member of the
Council of Europe and which hopes, one day, to join the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2000)

The Commission like others in the international community has been closely following recent develop-
ments surrounding the media in Russia and is highly concerned about reports of incidents that could
undermine press freedom. Free speech is a vital component of any democratic society and an important
litmus test of Russian commitment to creating an open society based on the rule of law and the respect of
essential human rights. The Commission will keep the situation under close review and will continue to
raise the general issue as well as specific cases with the Russian authorities as the need arises.

In addition the delegation of the Commission in Russia has organised several meetings with both Russian
and foreign journalists to discuss the state of freedom of expression in Russia. These included prominent
journalists from network television station (NTV) and Radio Ekho Moskvy, which are both part of the
Media-Most holding. The delegation has also been involved in two other recent initiatives. It gave financial
support to the (cid:145)Pen Club(cid:146) congress in Moscow, which focused primarily on the subject of freedom of
expression and, in April 2000, it sent a group of a dozen Russian journalists to Europe.

Further, through the Community(cid:146)s Democracy Programme the Commission has been supporting a number
of Russian non-governmental organisations in the media sector and the TACIS 2000 core programme will
include activities related to the training of Russian journalists.