WRITTEN QUESTION E-2869/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Fishing in Latin American southern Pacific waters outside the 200-mile zone.
Date: 2000-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, common fisheries policy, fishery management, fishing area, fishing rights, law of the sea

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/117

The Council has been setting quotas since 1984 and under Agenda 2000 has adjusted them for the period
to 2008 in line with the Community(cid:146)s internal consumption, its international commitments and historic
data for each Member State. Hence Member States(cid:146) modernisation of the sector can be undertaken only
within the limit of the national quota set. Reallocation to certain producers of individual quotas freed by
others is permitted.

The Council has over time substantially increased the reference quantities assigned to Spain. For the period
1986-2008 the rise has been 29 %. This contrasts with the European average of a 2 % fall for that period.
The Galician production situation was an important factor leading to this difference. Quota distribution
between regions and producers is decided by each Member State, using objective criteria. In Spain the
regions have been involved in this.

Regional production surpluses explain the comparatively low prices paid to Galician producers. To
increase the available quantity for the region without prior commercial rationalisation by the industry
would merely worsen the situation. To achieve a modern and profitable industry it would be helpful,
rather than increasing quotas, to include it in a rural development plan as provided for in Council
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support
from the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and repealing certain Regulations (2).

for rural development

(1) OJ L 405, 31.12.1992.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 136 E/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2869/00

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

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Fishing in Latin American southern Pacific waters outside the 200-mile zone

What is the Commission(cid:146)s position on the announcement by Mr Heinz Moller, Foreign Minister of Ecuador
and member of the Permanent Committee of the South Pacific formed by Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and
Peru, to the effect that those countries intend to impose more restrictive conditions for fishing outside the
200-mile zone applying to them, given that this will affect the Community(cid:146)s interests and, in particular,
the vessels of the Galician fleet which fish for scabbardfish in those waters?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2000)

The Commission has been recently informed of the adoption of the so-called (cid:145)Galapagos Agreement(cid:146)
negotiated by Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The text of the agreement has been made available to
the Commission, and is currently subject to an analysis in detail.

At this time, a first analysis of the text already reveals a number of provisions which would be contrary to
the Community(cid:146)s interpretation of the Law of the Sea and, from that point of view, the text of the
agreement would seem very difficult to accept for the Community.

In addition,
the agreement as drafted will overlap with the existing Inter-American Tropical Tuna
Commission (IATTC), an organisation that has been managing tropical tuna in the Eastern Pacific for
50 years. For the Commission, this duplication of instruments is not justifiable, since IATTC is already
a fully-fledged organisation where the management of all highly migratory fish stocks in the Eastern Pacific
can be adequately covered.

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?