WRITTEN QUESTION E-3195/00 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Research into alternative uses of tobacco.
Date: 2000-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, alternative use of agricultural products, tobacco

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/91

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2000)

The Commission would like to point out that the Community(cid:146)s fisheries agreements with West African
countries were negotiated taking into account Article 62 of the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). These agreements, which cover fishing possibilities utilised not at all or only
to a limited extent by local fishermen, generally contain provisions governing fishing zones, gear, landings,
crew assignment, and by-catches. All the provisions are designed to avoid any clash between Community
fishing vessels and local fleets. When negotiating with a non-Community country, the Commission also
includes funding for initiatives targeted at developing local and small-scale fisheries.

inspections in waters which are under the jurisdiction or sovereignty of

Such targeted initiatives are meant to enable the coastal states in question to improve their monitoring and
surveillance methods in order to combat illegal fishing. Policing the waters placed under their sovereignty
or jurisdiction is, of course, a matter for them. Although the Community is not legally empowered to carry
out
the
Commission cooperates as closely as possible with the coastal states in question to monitor fishing
activities covered by our fisheries agreements. Community legislation also requires each Member State to
check that fishing vessels flying its flag comply both with the fisheries agreements (including as regards
submitting catch data and monitoring in Community ports) and with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/
93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (1)
(including the satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS)).

third countries,

The Community is of course actively involved in the Food and Agriculture Organisation(cid:146)s current work on
drawing up (cid:145)an international plan of action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing(cid:146). The plan contains a chapter on the specific needs of developing countries.

(1) OJ L 261, 20.10.1993.

(2001/C 151 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3195/00

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 2000)

Subject: Research into alternative uses of tobacco

Can the Commission state whether the European Union is undertaking research into alternative uses for
tobacco? Is it aware that research in India has led to the manufacture of Solanesol, a high value alcohol
from tobacco and also resulted in the production of nicotine sulphate, which may turn out to be an
environmentally friendly insecticide?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

The Community tobacco fund, under its new application Regulation (CE) No 1648/2000 of 25 July 2000
laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 with regard to the
Community tobacco fund and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2427/93 (1) can finance research projects,
including the dissemination of the results to national authorities and the sectors concerned, regarding the
creation and development of alternative uses for raw tobacco in accordance with Article 1(1)(b) of the
above-mentioned regulation (e.g. more environmentally-friendly cultivation methods). No project has been
funded yet on this subject which has been introduced with the new implementation regulation.

C 151 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

the Fifth framework programme
As for research and technological development
(1998-2002) (2), the research key action (cid:145)Sustainable agriculture forestry fisheries and agro-industry(cid:146) within
the specific programme (cid:145)Quality of Life(cid:146), provides for the funding of research projects on alternative uses of
industrial crops, including tobacco crops. The calls for research proposals published by the Commission
did not however so far result in the submission of research projects of the required high standard of
scientific excellence.

in the context of

The Commission is aware of the non-food product developments in India.

(1) OJ L 189, 27.7.2000.
(2) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999.

(2001/C 151 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3200/00

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 2000)

Subject: International body(cid:146)s discrimination of a sports company which has actively fought doping

For 15 years the company A & V Sport Ltd and the sports group Amore & Vita Giubileo Beretta have
successfully participated in international sport and championed the health-related aspects of sport.

The Amore & Vita professional cycling team, part of the Fanini group, has the longest history in the
international arena; it has had great worldwide success, winning, amongst others, 11 world championships,
28 Italian championships and 11 stages of the (cid:145)Giro d(cid:146)Italia(cid:146); it has introduced 3 700 athletes to cycling and
has discovered and launched numerous champions, such as Cipollini, Bartoli, Tafi, Sorensen and others.

The team(cid:146)s manager, Ivano Fanini has, in recent years and in less suspicious times, actively fought against
doping with the aim of cleaning up cycling, which is now the focus of huge controversy with cyclists from
all over the world involved in cases of doping.

Despite the fact that A & V Sport Ltd met all the requirements of the International Cycling Union (ICU) for
its 2000 membership, the latter organisation, and namely its president, Hein Verbruggen, first of all
unreasonably delayed and then rejected the team(cid:146)s application for the year 2000.

The International Cycling Union has for no reason refused Amore & Vita the right to register as a
professional world-class team. A legal dispute with the ICU on the matter has been pending for months.
The team has therefore been unable to participate in international events such as the Giro d(cid:146)Italia, in which
it had previously taken part for 15 consecutive years, and it has now been prevented from taking part in
the Giro di Lucca, a multi-stage cycling race held on the sports group(cid:146)s home ground and where the team
therefore has the greatest number of sponsors and fans.

Can the Commission say what immediate measures it intends to take vis-(cid:224)-vis the International Cycling
Union to enable the aforementioned company and sports group to register in the appropriate manner,
thereby defending the sporting spirit and young cyclists, rather than the bureaucratic face of the ICU?

Does the Commission not consider that the International Cycling Union(cid:146)s failure to register Amore & Vita
and to provide due justification for such action would seem to indicate retaliation on the part of the ICU
for Ivano Fanini(cid:146)s condemnations of doping in cycling and his anti-doping campaigns?

Does the Commission not also consider that this situation has greatly damaged the families of the thirty
racing cyclists from Italy and other EU countries, not to mention the sports company which manages the
team and which, unable to participate in the main races, is losing its key sponsors and the chance to allow
its sports group to continue competing in future years?