WRITTEN QUESTION E-2178/00 by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Fisheries.
Date: 2000-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Basque Country, France, Spain, catch of fish, fisherman, indemnification, infringement of EU law

C 89 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Reply

(23 October 2000)

The question raised by the Honourable Member, which concerns facts, decisions and judgements which are
purely domestic in nature, does not fall within the competence of the European Union.

The right of freedom of religion or belief, which is embodied in the European Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as results from the constitutional traditions
common to the Member States, does form part of the general principles of Community Law (Article 6 of
the TEU) (1). However, this provision of the Treaty applies only in situations covered by Community or
Union law.

(1)

Judgement of 27 October 1976, Case 130/75, Prais, ECR 1976 p. 1589.

(2001/C 89 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2177/00

by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Fisheries

The Commission has adopted a technical procedure for the purpose of setting a final figure for anchovy
catches in the Bay of Biscay.

Although the figure set for the 1999 season was 33 000 tonnes, the Commission proposed reducing it to
5 000 tonnes for the year 2000 in order to allow anchovy stocks in the area to recover.

Finally, the Commission increased the quantity of anchovy which could be caught during the current
season to 16 000 tonnes, with the possibility of a further increase (to 33 000 tonnes) to be decided upon
at the forthcoming Fisheries Council meeting on 16 June if the quantity of anchovies of breeding age
exceeds 36 000 tonnes.

What scientific data have been obtained as regards the population of adult anchovies in the Bay of Biscay?
Will the increase go ahead in the light of those data?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

A subgroup of the Commission(cid:146)s scientific, technical and economic committee for fisheries has completed
an analysis including new information from two research vessel surveys in the Bay of Biscay during spring
of this year. The analysis revealed that the abundance of spawning anchovy is higher than had previously
been expected and is close to 50 000 tons. For this reason, the Fisheries Council of 16 June 2000 agreed to
increase the total allowable catch (TAC) for anchovy to 33000 tons which is the same as the TACs of
recent years.

(2001/C 89 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2178/00

by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Fisheries

On 16 May 2000 the Commission sent France a second (cid:145)reasoned opinion(cid:146). The first had been sent out in
1996 on account of France(cid:146)s failure to monitor the size of its fishing catches, particularly of hake.

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/157

This indicates an infringement of the Court of Justice judgment of 11 June 1991, in which it was stated
that France had failed to meet its obligations in this area.

In view of the importance of fishing to the other EU Member States and, in particular, to Spain and the
Basque Country, what action is the Commission going to take in order to ensure that France meets its
obligations in this matter?

What compensation is to be made available to the fishermen of the other countries affected by these
practices, and what form will it take?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The Commission did send France a supplementary reasoned opinion under Article 228 of the EC Treaty
(formerly Article 171) for the reasons stated in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.

The procedure forms part of the Commission(cid:146)s overall work to monitor Member States(cid:146) fishery activities
and to ensure compliance with Community fisheries legislation.

The Commission carries out this work continuously in respect of all the Member States, inter alia through
visits undertaken by Community inspectors.

With regard to the last part of the question, no compensation is payable if the Community inspectors
discover non-compliance with Community legislation. In response to systematic non-compliance with that
legislation, the Commission may initiate the procedure which Article 226 of the EC Treaty (formerly
Article 169) lays down for failure to fulfil an obligation.

(2001/C 89 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2184/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(3 July 2000)

Subject: Better regulation

At the Lisbon Summit, a commitment was made to (cid:145)better regulation(cid:146). What is the Commission intending
to do to ensure that this commitment is met?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 2000)

The Commission intends to present a policy document on better regulation early next year and is currently
examining existing initiatives (Business Environment (cid:145)Simplification Task force(cid:146) (BEST), Business Impact
Assessment (BIA), Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market (SLIM) and the Business Test Panel) with a
view to creating greater synergy between them and strengthening their capacity to create a better
regulatory environment for business. This document will be prepared for and discussed at the March
2001 European Council in Stockholm.