WRITTEN QUESTION E-0214/01 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission. Fisheries and the precautionary principle.
Date: 2001-02-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, common fisheries policy, environmental protection, fishery management, precautionary principle

C 235 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-173/01 and E-0213/01
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2001)

The Commission intends to keep the candidate countries informed of the consultation process for the
Common Fisheries Policy review through the normal meetings which regularly take place with these
countries, notably the meetings organised in the framework of the Association Agreements.

(2001/C 235 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Fisheries and the precautionary principle

The EC Treaty requires that Community policy on the environment should be based on the precautionary
principle (Article 174). How does the Commission intend to apply the precautionary principle to fisheries
policy decisions?

(2001/C 235 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0214/01

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: Fisheries and the precautionary principle

The EC Treaty requires that Community policy on the environment should be based on the precautionary
principle (Article 147). How does the Commission intend to apply the precautionary principle to fisheries
policy decisions?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0174/01 and E-0214/01
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The application of the precautionary principle is recognised in two forthcoming Communications by the
the key elements in achieving the integration of environmental protection
Commission as one of
requirements, including conservation of biodiversity, into the Common Fisheries Policy. Firstly a strategy
for the integration of environmental protection requirements and secondly an Action Plan for biodiversity
for fisheries will be presented to the Council and the Parliament during spring of this year.

The Commission has also explained in the recently adopted Communication on this principle and
multiannual arrangements (1) how this work will be carried forward for the commercially important
species. The two Communications mentioned above will explain how the principle will be applied in
a broader sense,
leading to full
including to non-target species, habitats and food web interactions,
integration into the fisheries policy.

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/143

The Commission has, however, already started to apply the precautionary principle in fisheries manage-
ment. Long-term management plans in accordance with this principle have so far been agreed for about
11 commercially important fish stocks and conditional closures of sandeel fisheries have been instituted to
enhance the protection of sea birds.

(1) COM(2000) 803 final.

(2001/C 235 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0175/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: New fisheries agreements

Has the Commission been mandated to negotiate new fisheries agreements with third countries? If so, with
which countries is it negotiating?

(2001/C 235 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0210/01

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: Future fisheries agreements

Has the Commission been mandated to negotiate new fisheries agreements with third countries? If so, with
which countries is it negotiating?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-175/01 and E-0210/01
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that, at this stage, the Commission has not been
mandated to negotiate new fisheries agreements with third countries.

(2001/C 235 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0176/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Overcapacity

The Commission estimates that the EU fleet is at least 40 % too large for the available resources. What
plans will the Commission propose to tackle this serious problem?