WRITTEN QUESTION E-2105/00 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Threats to cetaceans from French and Spanish trawlers.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Spain, common fisheries policy, marine mammal, protection of animal life

C 89 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

(2001/C 89 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2105/00

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Threats to cetaceans from French and Spanish trawlers

(30 June 2000)

Is the Commission aware of the serious threat to cetaceans caused in particular by French and Spanish
trawlers? Given that the Commission has made sustainable fisheries one of the key issues in the common
fisheries policy, should it not endeavour to protect marine mammals on the same scale as fish caught for
human consumption? Is the Commission proposing the early launch of an initiative to this effect?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of reports of strandings of approximately 350 dolphins in the Bay of Biscay
and of smaller numbers of dolphins on the coast of south west England earlier this year. The Commission
is also aware that the media have indicated that these strandings were a result of the dolphins being caught
by Spanish and French vessels using pelagic trawls.

In this context, it should be noted that Spanish national legislation prohibits the use by Spanish vessels of
pelagic trawls.

The Commission considers that means must be found to provide appropriate levels of protection for
cetaceans.

At the Council of 16 June 2000, the Commission expressed its deepest concern on this and similar issues.
To follow up, the Commission will very soon contact Member States requesting them to inform it what
actions they have taken or intend to take at national level. Furthermore, the Member of the Commission in
charge of Fisheries indicated his intention to give priority to further research and to consider what might
be done in the immediate future.

(2001/C 89 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2117/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Setting of motorcycle insurance premiums in the Member States

In Finland the premiums for insuring motorcycles are particularly high. The reason for the cost of the
premiums is of course the high accident risk associated with motorcycles. However, it appears that the
insurance premiums of the various motorcycle categories are not targeted fairly in relation to the number
of accidents in which each category is involved. In practice, the owners of larger motorcycles pay out a
disproportionate amount for accidents involving smaller motorcycles.

Is the Commission aware of the premium-setting practice in Finland?

Does this practice, as described above, differ from that in other Member States?

Does the Commission see a positive solution to this problem which would make the allocation of
premiums fairer? Does the internal market operate in such a way that a Finnish motorcyclist can take
out insurance in another Member State in which the pricing is in a reasonable relation to the risk of the
particular motorcyclist, taking account of his or her age, driving experience, place of residence and model
and size of motorcycle?