WRITTEN QUESTION E-1755/01 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) and Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. Mussel beds in the German part of the Waddenzee.
Date: 2001-06-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, EU law, Germany, Netherlands, environmental law, mollusc, nature reserve, protection of animals

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/197

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2001)

The Commission always felt that the changing circumstances due to liberalisation of Community(cid:146)s energy
markets had to be reflected in a European framework for the promotion of electricity renewable energy
sources within the internal market. With the recent agreement by Council and Parliament on the
Commission proposal for a Directive on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy
sources in the internal electricity market, this framework will soon be in place and will give a positive
impetus to the situation of electricity from renewable energy sources.

Concerning the Dutch situation, at the moment, around half a million customers have decided to switch to
green electricity in the Netherlands. They can either switch supplier or stay with their current electricity
supplier. The demand of the customers that have chosen for green electricity at this moment equals more
or less the percentage of current production of green electricity in the Netherlands.

Imports of renewable generated electricity into the Netherlands are allowed until 1 January 2002, under
the conditions that also count for Dutch produced green electricity, meaning that they benefit from an
exemption from the regulating energy tax (REB). The Dutch authorities are not in any way considering
closing the borders for green electricity. On the contrary, if demand for green electricity keeps growing,
imports will need to play an important role.

The Dutch authorities are now considering the options for dealing with the issue of imported green
electricity from 2002 onwards. As soon as clarity has been provided by the Dutch authorities in this
matter, the Commission will inform the Honourable Member of the details.

(2001/C 364 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1755/01

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) and Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Mussel beds in the German part of the Waddenzee

(15 June 2001)

The German Fisheries Department has granted a German company a licence to harvest mussels from
a young mussel bed near Delfzijl in the Netherlands. The area in question has been designated a special
conservation area under the Directives on Wild Birds and Habitats. In recent years a number of mussel
beds in the Waddenzee have disappeared. The current policy of the Netherlands Government is geared to
restoring the mussel beds. The oystercatcher and eiderduck populations have recently declined substan-
tially. Both oystercatchers and eiderduck feed on cockles and mussels.

Could the harvesting of mussels result in irreparable damage or damage which can only be remedied

1.
with difficulty (significant damage) to the mussel beds?

2.

Could the harvesting of mussels be a threat to oystercatchers and eiderduck?

Are there strong reasons of public interest in favour of granting a licence despite the possibility of

3.
significant damage?

4.

Does the licence contravene the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives?

How compatible is the licence with the principles of the biodiversity policy laid down in the action

5.
plan for biodiversity for fisheries?

C 364 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

6. What will the Commission do in the near future to protect mussel beds?

7. What is the Commission(cid:146)s assessment of the German Government(cid:146)s plans to quarry sand close to
a number of islands used by birds and to construct a container port in the Ems-Dollard area?

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

(3 September 2001)

The Commission has already launched an investigation in order to assess the compatibility of the shellfish
fisheries in the Wadden Sea and in the wide mouth of the river Ems with Council Directive 92/43/EEC of
21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1). The granting of
a licence to harvest mussels close to Delfzijl in the Netherlands is one of the subjects of that investigation.

As far as the German Government(cid:146)s plans to quarry sand and to construct a port in the Ems-Dollard
area are concerned, the Commission so far has no detailed knowledge of this matter and has no indications
that an infringement of Community law is at issue.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 364 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1757/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: Support for olive-growers affected by inclement weather in Portugal

The inclement weather which has affected Portugal has had serious consequences for certain forms of
agricultural production, especially in the olive sector. In that sector production for the last marketing year
fell by 60-70 %, above all in the TrÆs-os-Montes and Alto Douro region, which was declared a disaster
zone by the Portuguese government.

In the meantime, the farmers, the majority of whom are small producers, have received no support in the
form of subsidies. The government has merely opened a special credit facility, despite the enormous
damage caused by the fall in production in an area highly dependent on olive-growing.

This means that the farmers have received neither the income from their lost production nor the
production subsidies which had been promised in the budget. Their plight is such that some may be
obliged to abandon cultivation in order to survive.

It is therefore essential that compensation be paid to olive growers in this region, on the basis of at least
50 % of average annual production over the last three years as declared to the INGA (the National Institute
for Agricultural Intervention and Guarantees).

Can the Commission provide information on its position concerning compensation for the Portuguese
olive-growers affected by the inclement weather, given the prior existence of budget lines for the payment
of production subsidies which were not actually granted and the fact that Portugal is a net contributor to
the CAP?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission has no financial instrument that allows it to grant compensatory aid to farmers suffering
production losses as a result of bad weather.