WRITTEN QUESTION E-0687/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The EU's fisheries industry and its contribution to the reduction of world poverty.
Date: 2001-03-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, developing countries, development policy, fishing industry, poverty

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/101

Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment (3).

Not being aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member, the Commission will take the
appropriate steps in order to gather detailed information about it and to ensure the observance of
Community law.

The Commission would like to stress that Member States are required to ensure that the objectives of the
Community legislation on EIA are not circumvented by the splitting of projects. The cumulative effect of
projects should be taken into account when, taken together, they are likely to have significant effects on
the environment.

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 68.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2001/C 318 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0687/01

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

(8 March 2001)

Subject: The EU(cid:146)s fisheries industry and its contribution to the reduction of world poverty

In its communication to the Council and Parliament (cid:145)Fisheries and poverty reduction(cid:146) (1), the Commission
recognises the major importance of the EU(cid:146)s fisheries industry for the societies of developing countries.
The Commission states, in particular:
(cid:145)Fish and fisheries are important to developing countries. Fish are
reared, caught, sold, processed and consumed and in every step in the process there is economic and social
value-added to be seized by the developing countries. A development policy approach to fisheries carries
significant potential
from a development perspective, how
It matters therefore,
developed and developing countries interact in this sector. The importance of the fishery sector to
developing country societies is well documented. More than 150 million poor people in the world depend
on the fishery sector. The sector supports jobs in fishing, unloading, processing, distribution as well as the
construction and maintenance of vessels. In many countries, catches are part of fundamental food security.
In developing countries, an average 19 % of animal protein intake is provided by fish. In a large number of
poor countries, where this percentage exceeds 25 %, the contribution to food security and health is crucial.(cid:146)

in fighting poverty.

Can the Commission provide information on the EU(cid:146)s financial contribution to its development
cooperation policy over the period 1994-1999 and the forecast contribution for 2000-2006, specifying
which funds are to be involved and which agreements are concerned?

Can the Commission provide concrete data on the significant contribution to the EU(cid:146)s development policy,
and, therefore, to poverty reduction in the less developed countries, of the EU budget headings devoted to
the fisheries sector over the period 1994-1999, as well as the forecast contribution for 2000-2006?

(1) COM(2000) 724, 8 November 2000.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2001)

Given the complexity of the issues related to oceans, seas and fisheries in general, which are addressed as
integral part of larger projects by specific projects or programmes it is very difficult to present a precise
figure of budget allocated to fisheries development actions. Two documents complete this information and

C 318 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

give detail on the total budget allocated to cooperation in general and for the fisheries sector in particular:
(cid:145)European Community External Cooperation Programmes(cid:146) (1) exposes the nature of
the Community
External Cooperation Programmes with figures on the distribution of Community cooperation by Regions
and by sectors within the period 1986-1998. (cid:145)InfoFinance 1999(cid:146) (2) gives information about the sectoral
distribution of Community aid under the budget and the European development fund (EDF) within the
period 1998-1999.

A very synthetic analysis shows that the fisheries sector received from all cooperation instruments an
allocation of € 268 million during the period 1986-1998 i.e. an average of € 22 million per year (0,3 % of
the global allocation of all external cooperation). The Commission cannot provide information on the
forecast contribution for the whole period 2000-2006, indeed the breakdown of the Community aid will
depend on both Community policy objectives and the requests submitted by the partner developing
countries.

In addition to development instruments, part of the Fisheries Agreements with developing countries is
intended by the Commission to support the development of their fisheries sectors. For ACP countries the
financial share for targeted actions can represent 30 % to 60 % of the total amount of each Fisheries
Agreements.

(1)
(2)

ISBN 92-828-8666-2.
ISSN 1012-2184.

(2001/C 318 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0694/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 March 2001)

Subject: European Investment Bank loan to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake in Attica

The European Investment Bank approved a loan of GRD 300 billion in response to an application from the
Greek Government following the earthquakes in Attica. Has that loan been disbursed? If not, what kind of
problems were involved? What does the European Investment Bank intended to do in this connection?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed, on 9 December 1999, a loan contract of € 300 million
for urgent reconstruction in the greater Athens area, hit by a devastating earthquake on 7 September
1999. The loan was in support of the Earthquake Reconstruction Programme (ERP), directed and co-
ordinated by the Ministry of National Economy in co-operation with other Ministries. The funds were
made available for the reconstruction of public and municipal
industrial and commercial
buildings and private sector housing destroyed or damaged by the earthquake. Financing was planned to
be phased over a period of two to three years. According to the Finance Contract, the Ministry of National
Economy acting as the borrower had to provide to the Bank allocation requests for the entire loan amount
by 10 March 2001.

facilities,

On 15 December 1999, a first instalment of € 150 million was disbursed under this Contract, leaving an
undisbursed balance of another € 150 million.

The Ministry has submitted, on time, a complete list of schemes for allocation, justifying utilisation of the
entire loan amount. According to the Finance Contract, disbursement of the remaining loan amount could
be made in line with the work progress of the various schemes involved.