WRITTEN QUESTION E-0597/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The standing of the EU fisheries sector in the globalised economy.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, Japan, United States, economic analysis, fishing industry, gross domestic product

C 350 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

In the light of the above, will the Commission say:

(cid:129) what measures it has taken to protect the canned peach sector and with what results,

(cid:129) what measures does the Commission propose to take next,

(cid:129) to what extent are the practices adopted by Brazil taken into account and to what extent do they
influence the policy pursued by the Council in talks and negotiations with Mercosur, of which Brazil is
a member?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

The Commission is aware of several measures that have created difficulties for the market access of
imported canned peaches in Brazil. The measures mentioned by the Honourable Member can be divided
into two separate issues: Application of customs duties and anti-dumping investigation.

As regards applicable customs duties,
the 55 % duty is in line with Brazil(cid:146)s
the reintroduction of
commitments on customs tariffs in the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The legality of
the level of duty cannot therefore be challenged. However, the Mercosur Common External Tariff (CET) for
canned peaches is 17 %. On the basis of a recent Mercosur decision, Brazil may deviate from the CET on
canned peaches (among a number of other goods), but should eventually adjust its duties in line with the
CET. The Commission will clarify with the Brazilian authorities when this will take place.

terms, customs duties are best addressed in the context of

In general
negotiations between the Community and Mercosur.
negotiations will
removal of customs duties on substantially all trade between the Community and Mercosur.

the on-going interregional
these
include principles of standstill and roll-back as regards customs duties and, finally,

is the Commission(cid:146)s objective that

It

The anti-dumping investigation initiated by Brazil on 25 October 2000 has to be finalised under the
Brazilian legislation within twelve months from initiation. This deadline may in exceptional circumstances
be extended by six more months, i.e. a total duration of eighteen months at most. The Commission is
monitoring this procedure closely with a view to reacting swiftly in case of any deviation from WTO
provisions by the Brazilian authorities.

(2001/C 350 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0597/01

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

(1 March 2001)

Subject: The standing of the EU fisheries sector in the globalised economy

The fisheries sector is more open than most in the Community economy to globalisation (cid:129) the extension
across the board of exclusion zones around continental shelves to 200 miles in the 1970s led the
Community fisheries sector to actively seek resources in third-country waters, given that Community
production alone had failed to supply even 50 % of the demand for fisheries products. The role played by
the fisheries sector in the economy of Europe and of the world as a whole extends beyond the purely
economic. The sector also influences lifestyles, population patterns, employment and the survival of those
industries on which we depend for the safety of our food, and for these reasons it must be protected.

Can the Commission provide specific and up-to-date figures on:

(cid:129) the current contribution of the EU fisheries sector in the strict sense (i.e. extractive fishing practices)

towards Community GDP?

(cid:129) the current contribution of the EU fisheries sector in the broad sense (i.e. extractive fishing practices,
processing industry, marketing, allied industries and specialised shipbuilding) towards Community
GDP?

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/23

(cid:129) the current contribution of the EU fisheries sector in the strict sense (i.e. extractive fishing practices)
towards the global economy in comparison with its counterparts in other world powers such as the
USA and Japan?

(cid:129) the current contribution of the EU fisheries sector in the broad sense (i.e. extractive fishing practices,
processing industry, marketing, allied industries and specialised shipbuilding) towards the global
economy in comparison with its counterparts in other world powers such as the USA and Japan?

(cid:129) the current contribution of the EU fisheries sector in the strict sense (i.e. extractive fishing practices)

towards employment in the EU by Member State?

(cid:129) the current contribution of the EU fisheries sector in the broad sense (i.e. extractive fishing practices,
processing industry, marketing, allied industries and specialised shipbuilding) towards employment in
the EU by Member State?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2001)

In 1998, catches to a value of € 7,3 billion were landed in the Community, accounting for about 0,1 % of
Community GDP (gross domestic product).

The total value of output in the Community fisheries sector (extractive fishing, aquaculture, processing and
marketing) was € 20 billion in 1998, 0,28 % of Community GDP.

Japan(cid:146)s landings in 1998 valued € 9,6 billion, and the United States(cid:146) € 2,9 billion, i.e. the Community was
situated in between. The value of output of Community aquaculture amounted to € 1,4 billion, compared
with € 4,3 billion for Japan and € 837 million for the United States.

The Commission has no data on the turnover of the processing and marketing segments of the fisheries
sector in Japan and the United States.

The following table shows employment in the fisheries sector, in absolute and percentage terms, in the
Member States.

Employment in the fisheries sector in the EU in absolute terms
and as a percentage of total employment

Member State

Extractive fishing

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

745

6 361

3 261

43 952

68 297

21 664

6 424

43 289

3 102

29 146

3 250

2 353

17 847

% (1)

0,02

0,23

0,01

1,13

0,45

0,09

0,41

0,19

0,04

0,60

0,15

0,06

0,06

Aquaculture

Processing
and marketing

137

700

2 865

3 164

14 800

15 268

2 198

10 807

404

850

5 340

651

794

2 467

1 260

7 650

11 280

2 409

15 449

16 725

2 746

6 447

6 051

100

6 294

560

1 933

18 140

% (2)

0,05

0,54

0,05

1,27

0,65

0,23

0,72

0,27

0,12

0,04

0,85

0,20

0,12

0,14

(1)
(2)

Employment in extractive fishing as a percentage of total employment.
Employment in the fisheries sector (extractive fishing, aquaculture, processing, marketing) as a percentage of total employment.