WRITTEN QUESTION E-1787/00 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Boarding of a Community fishing vessel by Canadian inspectors.
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canada, fishing area, fishing vessel, international law, law of the sea, maritime surveillance

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/39

Certain islands constitute a specific group, the outermost regions, which share a range of handicaps
defined in Article 299(2) (ex Article 227) of the EC Treaty. On 14 March 2000 the Commission adopted a
report (4) on implementation of this new Article.

(1) COM(1997) 599.
(2) OJ C 143, 23.5.2000.
(3) OJ L 184, 27.7.1993.
(4) COM(2000) 147 final.

(2001/C 113 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1739/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(5 June 2000)

Subject: Funding of the pre-accession procedure for Cyprus and Malta

What action does the Council intend to take to ensure that the appropriations provided for the applicant
countries Cyprus and Malta are moved from chapter B4 of the budget, concerning external aid, to
Chapter B7, concerning pre-accession aid, in accordance with the guidelines for the 2001 budget that
Parliament has already voted on (paragraph 48)?

Reply

(20 November 2000)

In its first reading of the preliminary draft general budget for the financial year 2001 the Council has
provided for those appropriations to be entered under Title B7-0 (Pre-accession strategy) with the other
budget entries concerning the applicant countries. The Council would stress that it considers that the
financing of the budget entries for the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta ought at this stage to
come under heading 4 (External action) of the financial perspective. The Budget Council discussed the
matter at its meeting on 20 July 2000.

(2001/C 113 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1787/00

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

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Boarding of a Community fishing vessel by Canadian inspectors

The actions of Canadian inspectors on board a Portuguese freezer vessel with a Spanish crew (the (cid:145)Santa
Mafalda(cid:146)) has once again given rise to fears that the Canadian authorities are launching a new halibut war.

On 24 April 2000 the Santa Mafalda was fishing in NAFO international waters when it was boarded by
Canadian inspectors. This has been described by the Spanish Association of Licensed Seamen (Aetinape) as
a further infringement by Canada of the International Law of the Sea.

How have the Community authorities responded to this further act of provocation (similar to the halibut
war) on the part of the Canadian inspectors concerned and to what extent can Community fishermen be
sure that such actions, which are an infringement of the International Law of the Sea, will not be allowed
to happen again?

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?