WRITTEN QUESTION P-3110/00 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Advisory Committee on Fisheries.
Date: 2000-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), appointment of staff, common fisheries policy

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/185

(2001/C 136 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3106/00

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Transitional law in the electricity and production sector in the Netherlands

1.
Is the Commission aware of the Dutch government(cid:146)s transitional law in the electricity and production
sector, and in particular the stipulations of Article 12 (1), the effect of which is that insufficient import
capacity will remain on the grid in the Netherlands for other industrial partners wishing to take advantage
of the possibility of importing electricity, with the result that there will be no proper (cid:145)competition(cid:146)? If so,
what is the Commission(cid:146)s attitude towards Article 12 of the law?

Did the Dutch government first submit this law to the Commission for examination in the light of

2.
the electricity directive and the competition clauses of the Treaty of Amsterdam?

3.

Can other Member States adopt this approach to coping with the problem of stranded costs?

If the Commission gives its assent to this action by the Dutch government, or by any other Member

4.
States, what is its legal basis (competition clauses etc.) for doing so?

(1) Article 12 states that existing import contracts are to be given priority.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

law
for a transitional
The Commission has been informed by the Dutch authorities of a proposal
concerning the
elektriciteitsproduktiesector)
in August 2000. The information was provided in the context of the assessment by the Commission of
certain measures proposed by the Dutch authorities to compensate for stranded costs of the electricity
sector in the Netherlands.

electricity production sector

(Voorstel Overgangswet

Article 12 of this law stipulates that the grid operator of the high voltage grid on request can allocate
transport capacity on the international interconnectors to the benefit of those carrying out certain long-
term import contracts. The Commission is now investigating this point under its competition law and is
examining its compliance with the non-discrimination obligation contained in Directive 96/92/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in
electricity (1). The Commission has not yet determined its position on this issue.

The Commission is not aware of similar measures to reserve interconnection capacity for existing take or
pay contracts in other Member States. At this stage of the assessment, it is premature to mention the legal
if any, as the assessment has not yet been
grounds on which the Commission will base a decision,
finalised.

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.

(2001/C 136 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3110/00

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 September 2000)

Subject: Advisory Committee on Fisheries

1.
Does the Commission consider the present composition of the above committee to be balanced in
terms of the number of people belonging to it, their geographical distribution and nationality and other
factors designed to ensure that the committee(cid:146)s assessments can be as balanced as possible?

C 136 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

2. What were the findings of the promised evaluation of the work of the committee?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

1. When selecting the new Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Commission sought
to strike a balance between the various interests involved in the common fisheries policy. It appointed the
Committee(cid:146)s 31 members for a three-year term. In addition to the 21 members (or over two thirds)
representing the fishing industry, the Committee was expanded to include aquaculture (4 members) and
non-governmental organisations concerned with the environment, development and consumer protection
(6 members).

Of that membership, 22 were appointed on the basis of proposals from European associations or interest
groups (with each of the 11 associations concerned nominating a member and an alternate). The other
9 members comprise the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the Committee(cid:146)s Working Parties.

The Committee(cid:146)s current membership originates from the following Member States: Belgium (2),
Denmark (6), Germany (2), Spain (6),
and
the United Kingdom (4).

Italy (3), Portugal

Ireland (1),

France

(1),

(6),

Committee members are nominated through European associations not in order to achieve a geographical
balance among Member States, but so that those various associations can choose their own representatives.
Committee members thus represent their European association rather than their Member State of origin.

The Commission also seeks to draw on expertise from all the Community(cid:146)s fishery activities when selecting
the Working Parties, whose 20 members are nominated on a case-by-case basis by the European
associations according to the agenda. The Working Parties and the plenary Committee interact with the
aim of reaching a balanced and, if possible, common view.

2.
Since being set up on a permanent basis in July 1999, the Committee has held all the meetings
which it had scheduled at that date and is carrying out most of the programme which it set itself. Specific
lessons regarding new working methods for the sector and for the Commission cannot yet be drawn.
A survey is currently being conducted and is due to be published in a forthcoming issue of
(cid:145)Fishing in Europe(cid:146). The findings should show what the sector itself thinks of the reform.

(2001/C 136 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3116/00

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Risks presented by the use of chlorpyrifos

The use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos, which is permitted in the EU, is severely restricted in the US.
Products containing chlorpyrifos should not be used in homes, gardens, schools, children(cid:146)s nurseries or
hospitals after the end of 2001.

1.
Is the Commission aware that, according to a study carried out by the US Environmental Protection
Agency, chlorpyrifos should be classed among those chemicals that present an excessive risk to human
health?

2.
Is the
Over 800 individual products are affected by the ban on this insecticide in the US.
Commission aware which products that are permitted in the EU contain chlorpyrifos? If so, could the
Commission list the products concerned?