WRITTEN QUESTION E-1403/01 by Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Research project on avoiding damage to fish in hydroelectric power stations.
Date: 2001-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Germany, environmental impact, fish, power plant, protection of animal life, research programme

20.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/103

Community co-financing of this sub-section will mainly depend on its technical and (cid:145)financial maturity(cid:146)
(i.e. the provision of the necessary national funding), and be subject to the availability of funds under the
trans-European transport network budget line in the coming years.

(1) Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community Guidelines for the

development of the trans-European transport network (OJ L 228, 9.9.1996, p.1.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of

Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (OJ L 228, 23.9.1995, p. 1).

(3) Regulation (EC) No 1655/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 1999 (OJ L 197, 29.7.1999, p. 1).

(2001/C 364 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1403/01

by Emilia M(cid:252)ller (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2001)

Subject: Research project on avoiding damage to fish in hydroelectric power stations

For many fish species hydroelectric power stations represent an often fatal obstacle on their natural
migratory paths. For migratory fish such as the European eel this poses a threat to their continued
existence.

In 1996 the first stage of a research project on this subject was commissioned by the Bavarian Agriculture
Ministry. In the second stage, testing is now due to begin of the proposed technical methods of avoiding
harm to fish at hydroelectric power stations. Extensive funding is needed for this. Talks with possible
cooperation partners in Austria and the Netherlands on implementing the research project jointly are now
under way.

1.

2.

Are there possible sources of funding for such research projects within the EU institutions (e.g. (cid:145)LIFE(cid:146))?

Under what conditions would possible funding be granted?

3. What level of funding would be possible?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2001)

The Fifth Research and Technological Development framework programme (1998-2002) allows for the
funding of research projects on the impact of hydroelectric plants on the migration of species such as the
eel, in particular under key action 5.1.2 (cid:129) Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture (cid:129) interactions between
environment, fisheries and aquaculture (cid:129) of the Specific Programme on Quality of Life, provided that
a highly innovative scientific content is included in this type of research and there is a European High-level
Partnership (with a minimum of two countries and three scientific partnerships). The closing date for the
next call for proposal for research actions in this field (interaction resources/environment) is 18 October
2001.

A research project on this subject was accepted at the end of 2000, and is due to be completed by 2002. It
concerns project OLRT 1999-31141 (cid:145)Management of silver eel: human impact on downstream migration
silver eel in the river Meuse(cid:146) coordinated by Kema Power Generation & Sustainables in the Netherlands.
One of the expectations of this project is to develop a turbine management system that provides effective
protection of eels when crossing through plants.

In the key action (cid:145)Global change, climate and biodiversity,(cid:146) proposals are solicited for a deadline of
15 October 2001 for area 2.3.2 (cid:145)Reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with potentially conflicting
human activities.(cid:146) The call for proposals seeks work that would (cid:145)formulate and evaluate the scientific,

C 364 E/104

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20.12.2001

economic, technical and policy feasibility of conservation options for biodiversity.(cid:146) The work described in
the question might be adapted to fall into the scope of this call, bearing in mind that the main evaluation
criterion is scientific excellence.

Details on the work programme for these different Specific Programmes and on funding conditions are
available on the Cordis website at the following address: http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/.

The financial instrument for the environment (LIFE) is not applicable because this is not an instrument for
the support of projects mainly dedicated to research. Further details (scope, financial issues, etc.) are on the
the Commission/Directorate general Environment: http:/europa.eu.int/comm/life/
LIFE homepage of
home.htm.

(2001/C 364 E/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1407/01

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2001)

Subject: Effects of foot-and-mouth disease on the use of EU funding

Will the European Commission allow European money which is allocated for diversification to be used for
the re-establishment of businesses which have been severely affected by the consequences of foot-and-
mouth disease?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

The financial resources available for diversification purposes under the terms of Council Regulation (EC)
No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1), fall under two
measures:

(cid:129) Investment in agricultural holdings (Article 4), and

(cid:129) diversification of agricultural activities and activities close to agriculture to provide multiple activities

or alternative incomes (Article 33).

The financial allocation to these two measures has been a matter for Member States in the preparation of
their Rural Development Programmes and, where applicable in their structural fund programmes under
Objective 1 and Objective 2. Furthermore, subject to the requirements set out in Regulation (EC) No 1257/
1999, the details and types of support provided are different for each programme as these are based on
the respective national or regional circumstances and priorities. Member States have a substantial degree of
flexibility to modify these programmes taking account of recent events and any strategic needs for the
longer-term. Though for some modifications the regulations require Member States to submit proposals to
the Commission for approval.

However, the degree of flexibility must be within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.
it would be possible to support the re-establishment of businesses
Therefore, under these measures,
through diversification or other investments to either reduce production costs or to improve and redeploy
production. But, it is not possible, for example, to use this support to re-stock farms that have suffered the
destruction of their livestock.

The abovementioned Regulation includes provision for other (cid:145)structural(cid:146) measures which may be able to
provide support for businesses facing difficulties as a result of foot-and-mouth disease. These include
support for processing and marketing of agricultural products, training, infrastructure for agriculture, basic
services for the rural economy and population, renovation and development of villages and tourism and
craft activities. It will be a matter for the Member States to decide how best these can be utilised (including