WRITTEN QUESTION E-0320/01 by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Shipbuilding.
Date: 2001-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU industrial policy, South Korea, anti-dumping measure, common commercial policy, international commercial arbitration, market support, shipbuilding

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/31

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2001)

The Commission realises that the problem of desertification is a threat in certain regions of the Member
States, and more particularly Greece.

Desertification is a complex problem involving, at one and the same time, physical, chemical and
biological processes in interaction with human activity. According to certain climate models climate
change is likely to intensify this phenomenon, more especially around the Mediterranean Basin.

Several Community research programmes have helped in studying the deterioration of soils and
desertification in the southern regions of Europe since the 1990s; At the moment, as part of the Fifth
framework programme for research and technological development (RTD), the programme for environ-
mental research and sustainable development (key activity relating to global change) includes a specific
topic on this subject in support, in particular, of the United Nations Convention on the fight against
desertification. The results of research are regularly presented at, for example, the International Conference
held in Crete (Greece) in October 1996. This was intended to provide the link between research results and
political implications (see publications EUR 17782 and 19303). Other RTD publications upgrading project
results also help better to understand the problems involved, and more especially in Greece where the
Greek scientific Community is, moreover, maintaining a presence in several European projects.
Report EUR 18882 (Manual of key indicators of desertification and mapping areas that are environ-
mentally sensitive to desertification) puts forward an approach methodology that has been tested, inter alia,
throughout the island of Lesbos. As part of this group a (cid:145)concerted action (cid:129) Medrap (Concerted action to
support the northern Mediterranean regional action programme to combat desertification)(cid:146) that is currently
being funded by the Commission, is aimed at building bridges between science and action on the ground.
The countries set out in Annex 4 to the Convention, thus including Greece, are represented in this.

In general terms, the activities of the European Community under the United Nations Convention are set
out in a publication (Fighting desertification and soil deterioration) introduced at the most recent Parties(cid:146)
Conference held in Bonn in December 2000.

Moreover, at national level, the Greek National Action Plan required by the abovementioned Convention,
also provides pointers as to the direction being taken by the activities selected by that country.

In addition during the 1994-1999 programming period roughly € 17 million were committed under the
for Greece in order to conduct studies on the prevention of
Community(cid:146)s Interreg IIC (cid:145)Drought(cid:146)
desertification and for water supply and management products. The Community(cid:146)s contribution was
€ 10 374 million.

As part of the new programming period for the Structural Funds this problem was recognised as being an
area where Greece will have to take remedial action; Thus as part of the Community support system for
Greece covering 2000-2006 provision is made in Chapter 2.3.5 ((cid:145)quality of life(cid:146)), sub-chapter (cid:145)water(cid:146) for
more priority to be given in certain regions suffering from desertification such as the Argolis Valley and
certain Greek islands. A range of measures directly or indirectly linked with desertification is provided for
for the Environment and in agri-
in the regional programmes,
environmental measures in the rural development programming document
jointly financed by the
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (cid:129) Guarantee Section.

the operational programme (OP)

(2001/C 318 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0320/01

by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Subject: Shipbuilding

The Commission has recently announced its intention of putting forward a temporary mechanism to
protect the European shipbuilding industry against the unfair competition from Korea to which it has been
exposed for years; this mechanism might possibly be in operation from 1 May 2001.

C 318 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Just exactly what will the temporary protection mechanism consist of?

What measures are planned to support Europe(cid:146)s shipyards until 1 May?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2001)

On 29 November last year the Commission decided that it could propose, if no negotiated solution were
reached with Korea by 1 May, the introduction of a temporary support mechanism pending the outcome
of any action that might be taken by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Commission is already considering what form such a temporary support mechanism might take. It
would be confined to those segments of the market in which Community shipyards have been directly
affected by distortions in international competition.

Furthermore the TBR investigation under way (1) is to be completed by 1 May so that the Commission can
report to the Council on that day.

This procedure nevertheless gives the Koreans a chance to propose a solution to the problems observed
and may do much to restore world prices to commercially viable levels. The issue was raised by the
Commission at meetings with the Korean ministers of trade and industry on 14 and 15 February this year.

Should bilateral contacts fail to provide a solution acceptable to the Community, the Commission will
apply the guidelines drawn up by it and approved by the Council on 5 December last year.

Moreover, the Community shipbuilding industry continues to benefit, under Council Regulation (EC)
No 1540/98 (2),
(aid for innovation, aid for R & D, regional aid for
modernisation and restructuring aid) to help it adjust to international competition.

from other forms of support

In short, the Commission will continue to use every available means to defend the European industry.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 of 22 December 1994 laying down Community procedures in the field of the
common commercial policy in order to ensure the exercise of the Community(cid:146)s rights under international trade
rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (OJ L 349, 31.12.1994).
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 establishing new rules on aid to shipbuilding (OJ L 202,

18.7.1998).

(2001/C 318 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0321/01

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Subject: Antignano cliffs: failure to carry out an environmental impact assessment

Building work has begun without planning permission on a seaside complex in the area of the Antignano
cliffs running along the seashore in the province of Livorno. An announcement of the start of work has
simply been made. Above all, no environmental impact assessment has been carried out.

Given that disfiguring the landscape is a form of vandalism and that the complex may have been financed
with European Union funds, can the Commission:

1.

ascertain exactly how it has been possible for the complex to be built;

2. provide any information it has on the possible sources of funding for the project;

3.

give its overall view on the matter.