WRITTEN QUESTION E-2191/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Principle of relative stability as regards fishing in Community waters.
Date: 2001-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU waters, catch quota, common fisheries policy, fishing rights

C 40 E/212

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

On certain subjects, the Presidency intervenes on behalf of the Union in the ILO (of which the Union is
not a member). At this year(cid:146)s International Labour Conference, the Union thus intervened on a number of
subjects, including the issue of ILO action against forced labour in Burma/Myanmar, and discussion of a
new Convention on safety and health in agriculture, but not in the discussion on the Global Report on
forced labour.

(1) COM(2001) 416 final.

(2002/C 40 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2190/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Fisheries agreement with Morocco

(23 July 2001)

What scope is there for re-opening the negotiations on a new fisheries agreement with Morocco, now that
representatives of the fisheries sector in Galicia have stated that they are prepared to accept one of the four
offers made by Morocco (and are even willing to land their catch in Moroccan ports), and bearing in mind
the fact that Morocco has an objective interest in maintaining a social and economic link of this nature
with the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2001)

During its meeting of 25 April 2001 and following a report by the Commission, the Council concluded
that under existing circumstances it had not been possible to arrive at a mutually beneficial Fisheries
Agreement between the Community and Morocco.

Since that date the Commission has not received any formal offers from Morocco concerning the relations
in the fisheries area. Should such an offer be forthcoming, the Commission would examine its merits
thoroughly and swiftly.

(2002/C 40 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2191/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Subject: Principle of relative stability as regards fishing in Community waters

Is the Commission intending to propose a review of the principle of relative stability as regards fishing in
Community waters (the introduction of which was agreed at the beginning of the 1980s, before the
current resources policy was devised), since that principle no longer reflects the current state of the sector
or the relative importance of the various EU fishing grounds following the accession of new Member
States? What action is the Commission going to take in order to counter the unfair discrimination suffered
by regions such as Galicia, which for that reason (and contrary to the principles upon which the EU is
based) are unable to secure access on an equal footing to the fisheries resources to be found in Community
waters?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2001)

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for
fisheries and aquaculture (1) stipulates that the Council is to distribute the fishing opportunities between
Member States in such a way as to assure each Member State relative stability of fishing activities for each
of the stocks concerned. The factors taken into account when distributing resources on the basis of the
relative stability principle have been, in particular, traditional fishing activities in the areas covered by the
distribution and the specific needs of the regions heavily dependent on fisheries. The reference to relative
stability in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 means that each annual distribution should maintain

14.2.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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the fishing opportunities that existed prior to 1983 and ensure the continuity of that distribution over
this method is not contrary to the principle of non-
time. The Court of
discrimination.

Justice has ruled (2)

that

As the Commission stated in its green paper on the future of the common fisheries policy (3), there is no
need to radically change the existing system, in view of the results achieved to date in the allocation of
quotas.

(1) OJ L 389, 31.12.1992.
(2)
(3) COM(2001) 135 final.

Judgement of 16 June 1987, Case 46/86, ECR 1987, p. 2 671.

(2002/C 40 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2192/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Subject: State of affairs regarding the Multiannual Guidance Plans for fisheries

What is the current state of affairs regarding the implementation of the Multiannual Guidance Plans
(MGPs) relating to the various Member States?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2001)

The multi-annual guidance programmes (MAGP) for the fishing fleets fix annual capacity and fishing effort
objectives that must be met in all fleet segments. A comparison of the current situation with the objectives
in all segments for all Member States therefore represents a large amount of detailed information.

For this reason, Article 5 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)
requires the Commission to present an annual report to the Council and to the Parliament on the results of
the MAGP. The Commission has prepared the report on the results of the MAGP IV at the end of 2000,
which will be submitted to the Council and to the Parliament in the coming weeks.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2002/C 40 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2194/01

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Damage to the meat sector caused by BSE

(17 July 2001)

In response to the alarm aroused in Europe by the cases of (cid:145)mad cow disease(cid:146) and the damage caused, the
European Commission granted a series of subsidies to producers of
in order to
compensate them for the losses they were suffering.

feed and farmers,