WRITTEN QUESTION E-2495/00 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Structural Fund budget items earmarked for environmental protection in Madrid.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Spain, Structural Funds, eligibility criteria, environmental protection, pollution control measures, town planning, urban area

C 136 E/42

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

(2001/C 136 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2494/00

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

(2 August 2000)

Subject: EU action in the face of obstacles imposed by Chile on fishing vessels from Member States

Since 1991 Chile has been enforcing port restrictions on the Spanish fishing fleet operating in the Pacific
Ocean, which numbers between 8 and 12 factory vessels fishing for tuna, depending on the season.

The basic problem is that the landing of catches and their transfer to other vessels is being prevented, in a
clear breach of international obligations regarding freedom of transit and imports.

Will the Commission state the European Union(cid:146)s current position vis-(cid:224)-vis the damaging approach adopted
by Chile, which is causing immense harm to the Community fleet in the form of substantial economic
losses and the inability to import fish into other markets?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2000)

Since 1991, Community vessels have not been allowed to transship or land their catches of highly
migratory species, such as swordfish, in Chilean ports, when these catches were made in contravention of
conservation rules unilaterally imposed by Chile, regardless of the fact that the catches were made in
international waters.

This question has been raised on several occasions with Chile on a bilateral basis. In 1998 the Commission
initiated an examination procedure under Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 of 22 December 1994
laying down Community procedures in the field of the common commercial policy in order to ensure the
exercise of the Community(cid:146)s rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under the
auspices of the World Trade Organisation (1) (trade barriers regulation (TBR)). This investigation concluded
that Chile violated the principle of freedom of transit, established by Article V of the General agreement on
tariffs and trade (GATT) 1994, and that the Chilean ban on unloading catches made by Community vessels
was contrary to Article XI.

It has not been possible to find an amicable solution on the basis of the conclusions of the TBR findings.
Under these circumstances, the Community had to initiate World Trade Organisation (WTO) proceedings
with Chile. WTO consultations have taken place during the June/July period. The issue will again be raised
at the highest level at the end of September in Santiago. Depending on the outcome of these talks the
Commission might need to consider to formally request the establishment of a dispute settlement panel
under the WTO.

(1) OJ L 349, 31.12.1994.

(2001/C 136 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2495/00

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

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Structural Fund budget items earmarked for environmental protection in Madrid

EU environment ministers, meeting recently in Oporto, expressed the need for the EU to abandon its
unfocused and confused political action for cities and make environmental protection a priority. At their
meeting, the 15 ministers acknowledged that the big cities are a source of serious economic problems,
which stem from their failure to use energy efficiently and organise their activities and services adequately.

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/43

The focus of the political priority is protection of the urban environment, which is home to 80 % of EU
citizens. To that end, existing funding, particularly the considerable amounts under the Structural Funds,
must be put to better use.

In view of the above, will the Commission state which Structural Fund budget items Madrid, one of the
most polluted cities in the EU, has received, and say how it can call for the spirit of the statement made at
the aforementioned Oporto meeting to begin contributing, without delay, towards making Madrid a fitter
and more comfortable place for people to live in?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Protection of the environment is a key priority for the structural funds programmes and the Commission
recognises the importance of high quality environmental
infrastructure for regional socio-economic
development.

Support under the regional programmes cofinanced by the structural funds is targeted on the weakest
areas of the Union. The city of Madrid, which is relatively prosperous in European terms, has therefore
benefited less under the structural funds than the poorer regions of Spain eligible under Objective 1.

During the 1994-1999 programming period, a disadvantaged area in the centre of the city benefited from
the URBAN Community Initiative with an allocation of € 11,9 million. Environment
improvement
measures were supported under this programme. For the 2000-2006 period, certain areas are eligible
under Objective 2. Madrid also benefits from the Cohesion fund which applies on a national scale and
which has financed several environment related projects in the city with aid totalling € 146 million.

(2001/C 136 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2507/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 July 2000)

Subject: Substantial petrol price variations

In Valle d(cid:146)Aosta, a special-status region, the inhabitants are entitled to a bonus of ITL 1 294 per litre for
high-octane petrol and ITL 1 209 for (cid:145)green(cid:146) petrol, up to a maximum of 75 litres per person per month.

Given that (cid:129) even over a great many years (cid:129) I have not managed to elicit a proper answer from the
Italian authorities, can the Commission say:

1. why, for the reason outlined above, petrol in Valle d(cid:146)Aosta should cost less than ITL 1 000 a litre;

2. whether it can take steps to end this instance of unequal treatment among Italian citizens?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 September 2000)

The taxation of mineral oils in the Community is governed by the provisions of Council Directive 92/81/
EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils (1).
Article 8(4) of this Directive enables the Council to authorise Member States to introduce derogations that
allow exemptions or reductions in duty for specific policy considerations.