WRITTEN QUESTION E-0024/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Suspension of customs tariffs on tuna loin.
Date: 2001-01-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU market, cannery, competitiveness, preserved product, quantitative restriction, sea fish, supply, suspension of customs duties

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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3.7.2001

(2001/C 187 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0021/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Twelfth extraordinary meeting of the ICCAT

(17 January 2001)

that, at

With due respect for the right of Member States to enjoy dual representation within regional fisheries
organisations both as Member States of the European Community and as contracting parties to the
relevant regional fisheries organisation representing particular overseas territories,
it was nevertheless
apparent
the ICCAT held in Marrakech from 13 to
20 November 2000, members of the United Kingdom delegation were taking part simultaneously in
Community co-ordination meetings and meetings of the ICCAT contracting parties, representing Bermuda.
This dual role enabled the United Kingdom representative to take part in internal meetings to coordinate
Community interests, while at the same time defending positions opposed to EU interests on behalf of
Bermuda.

the twelfth extraordinary meeting of

In the light of this situation, what measures has the Commission taken, or will it take, to prevent such
occurencies at future meetings of the ICCAT or other regional fisheries organisations?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

The question of how to represent the specific interests of the overseas territories of certain Member States
was the subject of a separate declaration attached to the European Union Treaty.

This declaration stipulates that there should not be any divergence between the interests of the Union and
those of overseas countries or territories unless there are exceptional circumstances. In such circumstances,
the Council should endeavour to find a solution which corresponds to the Union(cid:146)s position. However in
cases where this proves impossible,
it has been agreed that the Member State concerned could act
separately in the interests of such countries or territories provided that this does not undermine the
interests of the Community.

The Member State must inform the Council and the Commission when such a conflict of interests is likely
to come about and, if separate action is unavoidable, it should indicate clearly that it is acting in the
interest of such a territory mentioned above.

The coordination of the opposing positions should take place within the appropriate Council bodies, the
coordination meetings sometimes being held alongside sessions of regional fisheries organisations. The
Member States are responsible for the composition of their delegation within the Council bodies under the
responsibility of the Presidency. The Commission has, according to its role as guardian of the Treaty, a duty
to verify that the Member States correctly inform it, as well as the Council, of the positions they intend to
present on behalf of their overseas territories.

(2001/C 187 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0024/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Suspension of customs tariffs on tuna loin

(17 January 2001)

Last year the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal on the common organisation of the market
in the fisheries sector in which it advocated suspending the customs tariffs on tuna loin. This proposal was
opposed by the Community(cid:146)s tuna loin producing sector, as well as by certain Member States, with the
result that the Council reached agreement on the basis of the views set out in an independent report

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commissioned by the Commission, which noted that the market was adequately supplied and that the
shortfall could be estimated at 4 000 tonnes. The Commission has never explained why it placed at risk
a whole fishing and industrial sector, which had always followed the approach until then favoured by the
Community of seeking to boost integration, by tabling such a damaging proposal as the suspension of
custom tariffs on tuna loin.

Will the Commission explain what its real motives were in tabling this proposal and what interests it was
seeking to defend?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

The Commission has already given some indications on the factors leading it to submit the proposal
concerned in its answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-0756/00 (1).

The increasing demand for loin has been partly met by a steady increase in imports from non-member
countries. The Commission deduces from this fact that the major trend on the Community market for
fishery products towards increasing dependence on non-member countries for supplies of raw materials is
also occurring on the tuna market.

The study also confirms that the Community firms using tuna loin as a raw material for producing
preserves are thereby improving their competitiveness both inside the Community and on the international
market. The study vindicates the Commission(cid:146)s opinion that this improved competitiveness is all the more
necessary given that certain tuna-canning firms in the Community will have to carry out structural
adjustments if they are to secure any long-term viability.

Lastly, the Commission is aware of a real supply deficit which, although limited, can have a seasonal
impact on the Community market in this product.

In 2000, as in previous years, the Commission submitted proposals to open restricted quotas for tuna loin,
and the Council adopted them, thereby opening the quotas.

As far as the medium term is concerned, the Council and the Commission made a joint statement on
17 December 1999, to the effect that a multiannual quota of 4 000 tonnes at 6 % duty would be opened
for 2001-2003. This quota will allow the Community tuna-canning industry to cope with the supply
deficit mentioned above. For those Community firms which must carry out structural adjustments, it will
also ease the transition to greater competitiveness on the Community and international markets.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001.

(2001/C 187 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0026/01

by Marianne Thyssen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Changeover of electronic payment systems to use of the euro

Major public information campaigns are planned for 2001 in order to ensure that the changeover from
national to euro coins and notes runs as smoothly as possible.

Consumers will unquestionably be encouraged to make more use, wherever possible, of electronic payment
systems in order to facilitate the changeover.