WRITTEN QUESTION E-0828/01 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Tuna fishing in the North Atlantic.
Date: 2001-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Azores, Madeira, conservation of fish stocks, environmental protection, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing net, fishing regulations

C 318 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

business and commercial activities, in particular with the Timisoara area. This development could lead to
a considerable improvement in Romania(cid:146)s economic situation.

The Commission:

(cid:129) Will it indicate what action the European Union intends to take to support companies setting up

business in Romania?

(cid:129) Does it not consider it appropriate to step up technical and administrative assistance, e.g. by opening

an office in Timisoara?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

The Commission is aware of the increasing interest of Italian companies from the Veneto region to
develop commercial and investment relations with Romania, particularly in the Timisoara area. The
Commission welcomes this development as it encourages the transfer of managerial and technical know-
how, thereby helping to develop the local economy and stimulate competitiveness.

Through its Euro Info Centre (EIC) network, the Commission has provided a service to businesses in this
area since 1996 when the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) in Timisoara became a relay office to
the Euro Info Correspondence Centre in Bucharest. Both offices were selected to become full EICs in 1999.
The role of the Timisoara EIC is to give assistance and information to companies in the region about
Community policy and programmes, and it may also help companies to find business partners.

The CCI Timisoara also has joint projects with the Chamber of Commerce in Ravenna and one of the
Chambers of Commerce in Venezia-Mestre, the goal of which is to reinforce co-operation between Italian
companies and companies in the Timisoara region.

During 2001 (cid:129) and subject to a decision of the Association Council (cid:129) it is hoped that Romania will begin
to participate in the Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), 2001-2005 (1). This programme includes the Joint European
Venture scheme (JEV) in which companies from any Member State may seek support for joint ventures
with Romanian companies.

Another support scheme open to Romania is the PHARE-funded SME Finance Facility. This provides credit
lines, technical assistance (training) and performance fees to banks in the candidate countries of Central
and Eastern Europe, as well as equity investment for venture capital funds, in order to increase the supply
of finance to local SMEs.

(1) Council Decision 2000/819/EC of 20 December 2000 (OJ L 333, 29.12.2000).

(2001/C 318 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0828/01

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Tuna fishing in the North Atlantic

Given that Commissioner Fischler has apparently had no opportunity to reply to the questions I put to
him during the plenary session debate of 28 February 2001 concerning the Gallagher report (A5-0044/
2001), on the EC-Equatorial Guinea Fisheries Agreement, I would now repeat these questions in writing.

In this agreement, as in any other EU agreement on North Atlantic tuna, has the Commission taken into
account the possible impact on tuna stocks and fishing opportunities in areas such as the Azores and
Madeira?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Is the Commission taking account of the impact of the use of encircling nets on protected species, such as
dolphins and terrapins, when, as in this Agreement, it provides financial incentives to use such nets?

Is the Commission taking due account of the fact that in the last two years, the tuna harvest has tended to
be in the Azores, to the detriment of fishermen and shipowners?

What measures does it intend to take in order to tackle this situation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 May 2001)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for his question and would like to inform him that the
conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas is the responsibility
of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) of which the Community
fisheries agreements. Community
is an active member.
representatives are steady supporters, within ICCAT, of strict measures to preserve tuna stocks in the area,
and Portugal is also represented, namely through the internal Community co-ordination procedures.

ICCAT obligations apply in the context of

The Community has been instrumental in the decision made by ICCAT that the use of Fishing Aggregating
Devices in the Gulf of Guinea be forbidden for a three month period every year. This measure, which was
already unilaterally applied by the Community ship owners in the past few years, should contribute to the
safeguard of the stocks in the entire area and especially for the protection of juveniles of certain species.

As regards fishing in the waters of the Azores and Madeira, the Commission recalls that these activities are
carried out within the quotas managed by Portugal in the ICCAT shares attributed to the Community.

Community vessels are submitted to a general ban or fishing over dolphins (1). As regards turtles, their by
catch is subject to constant surveillance by the Scientific Committee of ICCAT.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 850/1998 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through

technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (OJ L 125, 27.4.1998).

(2001/C 318 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0830/01

by Karla Peijs (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2001)

Subject: Fines for road traffic offences in the European Union

Is the Commission aware that Belgium imposes different fines on non-Belgians from those it imposes on
Belgian nationals for the same road traffic offences?

Is it aware that non-Belgians who receive a fine in Belgium must pay it on the spot, whereas Belgians do
not have to do so?

Is it aware that a verdict was delivered at
acknowledges such discrimination?

the Maaseik police court

(M20002686sassenanna)

that

Does it know whether similar discrimination occurs in other EU Member States?

Is such discrimination based on nationality compatible with European and international law?

If not, what steps is the Commission planning to take to put an end to it?