WRITTEN QUESTION E-1645/01 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Extraordinary aid for the conversion of the fleet following the failure of negotiations on the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Portugal, Spain, aid for restructuring, common fisheries policy, fishing industry, redevelopment aid

C 364 E/166

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(2001/C 364 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1645/01

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Extraordinary aid for the conversion of the fleet following the failure of negotiations on the EU-

Morocco fisheries agreement

As a result of the recent failure of negotiations on the fisheries agreement between the European Union
and the Kingdom of Morocco, it was deemed necessary to restructure part of the fishing fleet of Portugal
and Spain (the Member States directly affected) so as to enable them to resume fishing in other more
distant fishing grounds, particularly through urgent and exceptional measures designed to provide financial
support.

According to reports published in the Spanish press, the Spanish Government has warned the EU that it
may require more than € 300 million to convert the fishing industry which previously fished off the
Moroccan coast. According to the same source, Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer has stated that
this figure is excessive given that Spain has already received € 240 million.

The Commission:

(cid:129) Can it confirm these reports?

(cid:129) Can it say what level of financial support has been requested by and granted to Portugal to provide
similar support for Portuguese fishermen and fishing-vessel owners, who have also been directly and
seriously affected by the breakdown of negotiations between the EU and Morocco?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2001)

The Community response to the consequences of the non-renewal of the fisheries agreement with
Morocco comprises several aspects:

(cid:129) payment of compensation for vessels(cid:146) and fishermen(cid:146)s temporary cessation of activity, pursuant to
Article 16(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (1); such compensation has been paid since
1 January 2000 and is continuing to be paid in 2001;

(cid:129) restructuring of the fleets concerned, to be done partly through existing structural programmes for the
fisheries sector without increasing the overall appropriation, and partly through a specific action
programme as requested by the Nice European Council in December 2000 (2);

(cid:129) retraining of fishermen, following the same approach as for fleet restructuring;

(cid:129) socio-economic diversification of

to be done through their regions(cid:146)
integrated operational development programmes with assistance from the relevant Structural Funds:
the European Social Fund (ESF) and, where
the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF),
appropriate, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (cid:129) Guidance Section.

the coastal areas affected,

It should be borne in mind that all the measures referred to above must be part-financed by the
Member States concerned, in accordance with the general rules on the Structural Funds.

As regards the amount of Community support:

(cid:129) the Member States concerned will have to mobilise appropriations from the Structural Funds under

existing programmes, but it is not possible to quantify their amount in advance;

(cid:129) the Commission is currently examining the options for mobilising additional appropriations under the
specific action programme referred to above, with due regard for the financial perspective as requested
by the European Council.

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/167

The figures which the Honourable Member quotes in his question are merely working hypotheses among
many. At the appropriate stage the budgetary authority will be responsible for determining the amount of
the appropriations allocated to the specific action programme and, for its part, in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Articles 36 and 37 (ex Articles 42 and 43) of the EC Treaty the Community
legislature will be responsible for determining how those appropriations are to be divided between Spain
and Portugal.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements

regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (OJ L 337, 30.12.1999).

(2) Point 59 of the Presidency conclusions.

(2001/C 364 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1648/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Support for fishermen and shipowners during periods of biological rest or inability to fish due to

bad weather

In Portugal, where small-scale coastal fishing plays an extremely important role for fishing communities
which largely depend on it, fishing trips are sometimes made impossible for various reasons. Fishermen
and owners (of small coastal fishing vessels) do not receive any financial aid during such periods, making it
difficult for these fishing communities to survive.

Storms and poor sea conditions are of particular significance during long periods in the winter, together
with biological rest periods to protect stocks, particularly as regards sardines in the north and fishing for
bivalves using dredges in the Algarve.

Even though this year, by way of exception, fishermen have been granted the right to some degree of
support as regards biological rest periods, the problem will arise again in the future.

The Commission:

1.

Is it aware of the above circumstances and the socio-economic difficulties which they cause for
fishermen and small shipowners?

2. What measures will it take to provide financial support for such fishermen and shipowners where they
are obliged to suspend fishing activities, either due to storms or during periods of biological rest to
protect stocks?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Commission is aware of the circumstances referred to by the Honourable Member. Rules in fact exist
under which Member States may provide assistance for shipowners and fishermen affected by the
temporary cessation of fishing activities as a result of unforeseeable events or plans to re-establish stocks
that are under threat.

Article 16(1)(a) and (c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the
detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (1)
provides for the following measures and for the period they are to apply:

The Member States may grant compensation to fishermen and owners of vessels for the temporary
cessation of activities in the following circumstances:

(a)

in the event of unforeseeable circumstances, particularly those caused by biological factors; the
granting of compensation may last for no more than two months per year or six months over the
entire period from 2000 to 2006. The management authority shall forward suitable scientific
proof to the Commission in advance;