WRITTEN QUESTION E-3021/00 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Ban on driftnets.
Date: 2000-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Italy, application of EU law, fishing net, fishing permit, infringement of EU law

C 151 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

However, the two towns are separated by the English Channel, and any travel between them necessitates a
journey by either air or sea, which can be costly.

Would the Commission consider taking into account the high cost of travel between two twinned towns
that are separated by a sea border, and change the eligibility criteria accordingly?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2000)

The Commission remains highly conscious of the need for effective management of the town twinning
assistance programme as a precondition of its complete success.

In view of the difficulties and ensuing need for remedial action created by the large number and variety of
proposals received in the past, the Commission is introducing a new procedure for 2001, which should
help to improve efficiency. This procedure provides for greater flexibility in evaluating proposals involving
towns less than 250 km apart.

The Commission notes the concerns voiced by the Honourable Member and will keep Parliament informed
of the application of the new procedures.

(2001/C 151 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3021/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Ban on driftnets

In 1992 the Council decided to restrict driftnets to a maximum length of 2,5 km. Despite the existence of
such rules, however, driftnet fishing is still practised. For this reason the Council adopted Regulation (EEC)
No 1239/98 (1), pursuant to which driftnets will be gradually phased out by 1 January 2002, at the end of
a transitional period granted to enable fishing fleets to adapt.

Over the summer, however, Spanish fishermen(cid:146)s organisations have complained that the above regulation
has been ignored by French vessels fishing in the Atlantic and Italian ones fishing in the Mediterranean,
which continue to use driftnets of up to 10 km.
from encouraging unfair
competition between fishermen (on account of the greater efficiency of driftnet fishing by comparison
with other traditional techniques), such infringements of Community law impede the progress of other
vessels and cause significant environmental damage in the form of secondary catches of species such as
dolphins, whales and sharks.

in length. Quite apart

What action has the Commission taken (and what further action does it intend to take) in order to ensure
compliance with Regulation (EEC) No 1239/98 on the phasing out of driftnets?

How many infringements has the Commission detected annually and per country since 1998?

How many vessels (classified by countries) have been authorised to use driftnets for each of the years from
1998 to 2000?

(1) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998, p. 1.

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/41

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

Respect for Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 of 8 June 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 894/97
laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources is one of the Commis-
sion(cid:146)s priorities every year in the policing of fishing. Commission inspectors regularly take part in
inspection operations on land and sea organised by the Member States concerned.

For the outcome of the policing carried out the Honourable Member is requested to refer to the
Commission(cid:146)s report to Parliament on the application in 1998 and 1999 of Community legislation on
the use of drift nets to catch highly migratory species in the North-East Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Since 1998 the numbers of vessels authorised by Member States to fish for albacore using drift nets have
been:

France:
(cid:129) Atlantic
(cid:129) Mediterranean

Spain:
(cid:129) Atlantic
(cid:129) Mediterranean

Ireland

United Kingdom

Italy

1998

45
(1) 109

0
nd

18

6

321

1999

41
109

0
53

18

6

218

2000

42
(2) nd

0
34

18

6

102

Indicative number of French vessels using drift nets in the Mediterranean.

(1)
(2) Not determined.

(2001/C 151 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3023/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Planned construction of the La Caæada dam on the Turia River (Valencia, Spain)

The project involving the construction of a dam to control the waters in the lower stretch of the Turia
River (the La Caæada dam), which is currently at the consultation stage and which will affect the townships
of Manises, Riba-roja and Paterna, has led to protests from local people who do not believe such a project
to be necessary. According to the explanatory statement relating to the project, the latter is intended to
improve and modernise irrigation in order to optimise the use of the available resources by reducing actual
demand, whereas the local people affected consider that the planned dam will do nothing to improve
irrigation infrastructure since it will merely provide a means of water retention.

Furthermore, the local people maintain that the environmental impact assessment carried out on behalf of
the Spanish Environment Ministry presents major shortcomings as regards the way in which it describes,
classifies and assesses the area concerned and also the species of flora and fauna found in the area. The
study, which concludes that the building of the dam will have a (cid:145)moderate negative(cid:146) impact, has been
rejected by local environmental organisations and associations concerned with the protection of Mediter-
ranean woodlands, who have submitted alternative studies which show that many species of fauna and
flora included in Annex I (priority conservation) of the (cid:145)habitat(cid:146) Directive 92/43/EEC (1) (e.g. Sal(cid:237)s alba,
populus alba) and Directive 79/409/EEC (2) on birds (e.g. kingfishers, the common bittern and the purple
heron) and which are also protected under a decree issued by the Valencia Regional Government would be
seriously threatened if the dam were to be built.