WRITTEN QUESTION E-1788/00 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Asturian Rural Accommodation Network.
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, Principality of Asturias, rural tourism

C 113 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 July 2000)

In accordance with the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) scheme of joint international
inspection and surveillance, each contracting party may assign inspectors to this scheme and notify
surveillance vessels to NAFO. Provided that NAFO inspectors are assigned to the scheme and embarked
on a surveillance vessel which has been notified to NAFO, they may carry out inspections on board any
fishing vessel flying the flag of a contracting party.

NAFO inspectors are obliged to carry out their duties in accordance with the rules set out in the NAFO
scheme. They are obliged to remain under the operational control of the authorities of their contracting
parties and to be responsible to them.

On 23 April 2000, two Canadian NAFO inspectors, accompanied by a trainee, carried out a routine
inspection on board the Community fishing vessel (cid:145)Santa Mafalda(cid:146) which operated at that moment in the
NAFO regulatory area. Both the Canadian inspectors as well as the surveillance vessel on which they were
embarked are listed under the above scheme. Their inspection was carried out under its auspices.

The Canadian NAFO inspectors alleged the vessel committed a serious infringement of NAFO rules. In
accordance with NAFO procedures, the Commission has been informed of the details of the infringements
Inspectors of the Commission conducted, on 24 April 2000, a
by the Canadian NAFO inspectors.
verification of the findings of the Canadian inspectors and transmitted their report to the Portuguese
authorities who ordered the vessel to port. The vessel arrived in Aveiro on 10 May 2000. The case is being
investigated by the Portuguese authorities.

As regards the way in which the inspection was conducted, the Commission has drawn the attention of
the Canadian authorities to the seizure of relevant documentation by the Canadian NAFO inspectors as
well as their continued stay on board the (cid:145)Santa Mafalda(cid:146). The Commission takes the view that the
Canadian NAFO inspectors acted in breach of the NAFO scheme by taking away documents from the
vessel without the permission of the master and by continuing to stay on board after the arrival of the
inspectors of the Commission on board the (cid:145)Santa Mafalda(cid:146).

The Commission is confident that the Canadian authorities will take appropriate measures to ensure that
future inspections by Canadian NAFO inspectors on board Community fishing vessels operating in the
NAFO regulatory area are conducted in full compliance with the scheme.

(2001/C 113 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1788/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Asturian Rural Accommodation Network

(8 June 2000)

At a meeting recently held by the Spanish Rural Tourism Association, attention was once again drawn to
the importance which has been acquired, in the Community tourism sector, by the activities of those who
promote this type of tourism in rural areas of the Community.

In this connection the activities pursued by the Asturian Rural Accommodation Network may be
highlighted. This body operates in one of the most scenically attractive regions of the Community and
the direct technical assistance which it provides to new promoters of rural tourism in Asturias has led to
the creation of many direct jobs in the region and approximately half as many indirect jobs.

What Community aid has been provided for the development of the Asturian Rural Accommodation
Network and to what extent, and in what way, can the promoters of this type of rural tourism in Asturias
gain access to the Community aid available to the sector?

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/41

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 2000)

The Commission is informed by the Spanish authorities that the Asturian Rural Accommodation Network
has not received Community aid.

It should be said however that during the 1994-1999 period € 8 500 000 from the Structural Funds
(European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (Guidance Section) and European Regional Devel-
opment Fund) was committed for rural tourism development in the Autonomous Community of Asturias
under the Leader II Community Initiative and the Proder Operational Programme.

(2001/C 113 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1789/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Disfunctions in the calculation of electricity prices in Spain

In accordance with a custom which has become habitual in the period since the new Commission took
office, a report concerning the Spanish electricity sector has found its way into the Spanish press.
According to that report the price of electricity has fallen by 16 % over the last three years.

Since it may be feared that the purpose of this press report is to create a favourable environment for the
approval of public aid (CTCs) for the sector and that the Commission will become the laughing stock of
Spanish consumers who do not see any actual evidence of this reduction.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:129) Would it confirm or deny the report to the effect that the price of electricity in Spain has fallen by

16 %?

(cid:129) What calculations has the Commission made?

(cid:129) Could the Commission provide a breakdown of those calculations, distinguishing between industrial

and domestic consumers?

(cid:129) Is the Commission aware of the studies carried out by the National Electricity Grid Committee,

according to which the price of electricity increased in both 1998 and 1999?

(cid:129) Are the Commission(cid:146)s calculations incorrect and, if so, why?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

One of the most visible effects of the opening-up of electricity markets, lower electricity prices, is, in
1.
the opinion of
the Commission, becoming a reality in the Community (communication from the
Commission to the Council and the Parliament (cid:145)Recent progress with building the internal electricity
market(cid:146) (1)). Statistics on electricity price trends in Spain from 1996 until 1999 show that prices have
fallen. Annex 2 of the Commission communication shows that nominal prices of electricity have fallen in
Spain (i) for domestic consumers, by 15,1 %, (ii) for small enterprises, by 18,4 %, and (iii) for industry in
general, by 16,2 %. The drop by 16 % mentioned by the Spanish press and the Honourable Member is
most likely the result of a simple arithmetical average of the three figures above. These figures are
published by Eurostat and are on the basis of prices in Euros. If the same type of figures are provided in
national currencies, the nominal prices of electricity in Spain have fallen by 12,5 % for households, by
16 % for small enterprises, and by 13,7 % for industry in general (July 1996-July 1999).