WRITTEN QUESTION E-2872/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Cod fishery agreements with Russia and Iceland.
Date: 2000-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iceland, Russia, Spain, catch by species, catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing area

C 136 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

Furthermore, the Community has always defended the open character of multilateral fisheries management
agreements and undertakings. In this case, the negotiation of this agreement by only the four coastal states,
thus excluding other potentially interested parties, would be clearly contrary to the necessary open
character of such an initiative, and this constitutes a cause of concern.

The Commission is examining this question and, on the basis of a definitive analysis of the text, will decide
on a possible reaction to the countries concerned.

(2001/C 136 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2870/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Spanish airport model

The Minister of Public Works of the Spanish central government stated last month that his governments
intends to (cid:145)define a Spanish airport model(cid:146). In view of the risk of such a definition favouring a model
aimed at blocking Europeanisation and furthering a centralised airport policy for Spain that would run
counter to the EU(cid:146)s moves towards decentralisation and the (cid:145)single European sky(cid:146), and given further that
Cohesion Fund monies could be used to implement such a policy, can the Commission state what role it
intends to play in the definition of this (cid:145)Spanish airport model(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Decisions on airports development policy fall under the responsibility of the national authorities. The
Commission and the Community have no role to play at this level of the decision process.

Should the Spanish authorities request Community support for an airport project, the Commission would
have to assess this application on the basis of the relevant requirements and procedures for the use of
Community funds. In relation to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) these rules are laid down
in Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community
guidelines for the development of the trans-European network (1) and in Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/
95 laying down the general rules for the granting of aid in the field of trans European networks (2).

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.
(2) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995.

(2001/C 136 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2872/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Cod fishery agreements with Russia and Iceland

(14 September 2000)

The cod fishery in the Spanish state, and,
the Galician fishery, are pressing for the
in particular,
establishment of agreements between the EU and Russia and Iceland in the context of trade relations
with those countries, since these would enable the fisheries concerned to increase their cod quotas within
the areas of those countries(cid:146) economic sovereignty. The sector has begun negotiations with the Commis-
sion to this end. Can the Commission state what stage these negotiations have reached? Will
the
Commission defend the positions of a sector which believes that the current cod catch quota for its
vessels (16 000 tons) is manifestly insufficient, resulting in its activity being confined to the Svalbard
Islands while, in addition, it is now denied access to the cod shoals in Greenland waters?

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/119

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2000)

The Commission is aware of the long-standing quest by the Galician ship-owners for additional cod
quotas. While the Commission has a variety of
the
Commission has not engaged in any negotiations with private parties on this issue.

informal contacts with sector representatives,

The Commission tabled in Council a recommendation for a negotiating mandate for a fisheries co-
operation agreement with Russia. However, in view of political developments in Russia and other reasons,
Council has not yet reached a decision on this issue.

It is highly unlikely that Iceland would grant a cod quota to Community vessels. The only species covered
by the existing agreement with the Community is redfish.

The Commission has sought repeatedly additional quotas of cod and other species for Spain and other
Member States in the framework of various agreements. However, the need to maintain relative stability
and the precarious state of many stocks make this goal very difficult to fulfil.

(2001/C 136 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2877/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Merger of the publicly-owned shipyards BazÆn and Astilleros Espaæoles and reauthorisation of

Astano to construct merchant vessels

The chairman of the Spanish public body Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), an
organisation grouping publicly owned undertakings, recently announced the decision to merge two
enterprises, namely BazÆn, a constructor of military vessels whose main shipyard is in El Ferrol (Galicia),
and Astilleros Espaæoles, a constructor of merchant vessels of which the Astano shipyard, also in El Ferrol,
is a branch. The chairman of SEPI justified this decision on the grounds that BazÆn has a large number of
orders while the other enterprise does not; he also invoked the need to respond to competition from
Korea, in the light of the circumstances which will soon prevail following the EU(cid:146)s decision to abolish state
aid.

This decision by SEPI, which, its chairman appears to believe, is unlikely to meet opposition from the
Commission on grounds of competition guarantees, has created a new situation, which should logically
lead to the lifting of the ban on vessel construction which Astano has been labouring under for some
years. This ban has caused a considerable economic depression in El Ferrol.

In view of all the above circumstances, does the Commission intend to facilitate the merger on the terms
proposed? Will the Commission lift the ban on vessel construction by Astano, while also continuing to
authorise it to construct off-shore naval installations, in which it has achieved a widely recognised level of
specialisation?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

The recently announced merger of the military yards of Bazan and the merchant shipyards of Astilleros
Espaæoles has not been notified to the Commission. The Commission has asked Spain to provide all
relevant information about the operation in order that the Commission can assess whether any state aid is
involved and, if so, whether this is compatible with the state aid rules for shipbuilding that apply.