WRITTEN QUESTION E-0987/01 by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Threat of survival of cetaceans.
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, by-catch, fishing regulations, marine mammal, protected species, protection of animal life

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/139

So far, the Community has not granted financial aid to Greece pursuant to the Directives and
the Community Reference Laboratories

4.
Decision mentioned by the Honourable Member. None of
mentioned in those Directives and Decisions is situated in Greece.

The Commission is not aware of the introduction of an electronic ear-tagging system for cattle in
5.
Greece. The Commission project on electronic identification of animals (IDEA) is due to be finalised by the
end of this year. On the basis of the outcome of this project the Commission will present a report on
electronic identification accompanied by possible proposals to the Parliament and the Council.

With regard to Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, Greece
informed the Commission of
transposition of 27 October 2000. Each Member State is
responsible for implementing the Directive. The Commission, through the Food and Veterinary Office
(FVO), carries out on-site checks in the form of audits to ascertain how the Member States have transposed
and implemented the Directive.

the act of

(2001/C 340 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0987/01

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Threat of survival of cetaceans

Every year tens of thousands of cetaceans die in fishing nets in European waters (cid:129) in particular some 4 %
of the total population of harbour whales die in this way. The IWC estimates that in the long term marine
cetaceans are in danger of becoming extinct, since they are dying off at a rate of 1 % annually.

Given that Principle 15 of the Rio Earth Summit Conference of 1992 and UNEP(cid:146)s 1999 annual report
attach great importance to multilateral environmental agreements as a means of reducing environmental
degradation, what action does the Commission intend to take to address this important problem?

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

(8 June 2001)

All cetacean species are specifically protected under the Habitats Directive (1). Member States have to take
the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection in order to ensure a favourable
conservation status of cetaceans.

On the basis of this Directive, and along with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (2)
(CITES), any kind of hunting for whales and trading in whale species is forbidden in the
Community.

As for the interaction between these species and fishing activities, the Community has addressed the
incidental capture of cetaceans on several occasions, adopting legislation on the grounds both of internal
and multilateral commitments.

Community Fisheries legislation already limits the size of drift nets and has introduced measures to
prohibit their use from the start of 2002, with expected consequential benefits to the cetaceans (3)
populations.

At multilateral level, the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme (4) is applied by
the Community since 1 June 1999,
following its adoption by the Council. The Community has
subsequently implemented the rules of this Agreement with a view to protecting cetaceans in the
tuna fisheries of the Pacific Ocean (5).

C 340 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

From a broader viewpoint, the Commission is well aware that the protection of marine bio-diversity needs
an integrated strategy to cope with the degradation of marine habitats. The development of such strategy is
therefore considered a priority (6). Furthermore, taking into account the interest that the Community has in
promoting more sustainable fishing activities, the use of selectivity devices that reduce or eliminate by-
catches of non-target species is also to be considered (7). In both cases, there is scope for improving the
coordination with Member States as well as the dialogue with international organizations and other
interested countries.

(1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and

(2)

flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992).
Implemented by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 of 3 December 1982 on the implementation in the
Community of the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 384,
31.12.1982).

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98, amending Regulation (EC) No 894/97 laying down certain technical measures

for the conservation of fishery resources (OJ L 171, 17.6.1998).

(4) Council Decision 1999/386/EC of 7 June 1999 (OJ L 147, 12.6.1999).
(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98, 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).

(6) Communication from the Commission on the sixth environment action programme of the European Community,

COM(2001) 31 final.

(7) Communication from the Commission on a Biodiversity Action Plan for Fisheries, COM(2001) 162 final.

(2001/C 340 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0989/01

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Unacceptable attitude of US senators

including Mr Rodot(cid:224), the Chairman of the Article 29
On Thursday, 8 March 2001 EU representatives,
Working Group, visited the US Congress. According to European press reports, they were violently
criticised by senators who see the Directive on the protection of personal data on the Internet as
excessively tough. In particular, Senator Buyer praised his forefathers for taking the right decision and
leaving Europe.

Will the Commission say whether it will yield to American pressure or continue the work it has begun to
ensure that users(cid:146) rights are more effectively protected on the Internet?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2001)

The Commission proposal for a Directive on the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy
in the electronic communications sector of 12 July 2000 (1), to which the Honourable Member refers, is
currently being discussed in co-decision procedure. It is the Commission(cid:146)s view that the proposal contains
the most appropriate approach for the protection of personal data in the electronic communications sector
including the Internet and hopes that it will be adopted by the Parliament and the Council before the end
of this year.

(1) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.