WRITTEN QUESTION E-2551/01 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. First agreement on the creation of a fishing venture between Spain and Tunisia.
Date: 2001-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Spain, Tunisia, business start-up, fishing agreement, fishing fleet, mixed-ownership company

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/157

(2002/C 93 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2551/01

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2001)

Subject: First agreement on the creation of a fishing venture between Spain and Tunisia

The signing of a first agreement to set up a joint fishing venture between Spain and Tunisia will enable
around ten vessels from the Spanish town of Algeciras which have been affected by the loss of the
Moroccan fishing grounds to fish in Tunisian waters and subsequently market their catch through Spanish
ports.

Half of the capital of the new firms will be provided by the shipowner in Algeciras and the other half by
his Tunisian counterpart. The vessels, all of them less than 20 tonnes, are to be listed in the Tunisian
register and sail under the Tunisian flag but with Spanish crews.

Can the Commission say whether it is aware of this type of agreement which, it appears, will soon be
concluded between other shipowners in Spain and Tunisia? Can it also say whether they might be covered
by the common fisheries policy in some way, and whether it can facilitate or indeed aid the extension of
this form of cooperation to other countries such as Algeria, and to countries in other parts of Africa?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2001)

The Commission is not aware of arrangements or agreements that are concluded by private operators or
ship-owners in the Community. Moreover, current fisheries legislation does not require these transactions
to be reported to the Commission.

Article 8 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) specifies the terms
for granting Community financial support for the creation of joint ventures between Community and third
country operators. Subject to those and other applicable conditions, the Commission could indeed facilitate
and support the implementation of such joint ventures.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2002/C 93 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2555/01

by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 September 2001)

Subject: GMO and wine-growing

Wine is a typical product not only in Italy but throughout the Mediterranean region. The use of genetically
modified organisms would destroy its essential features (typical character, tradition, links with culture and
the land), impair its taste and flavour and detract from its commercial value.

In some regions wine is seen as an essential aspect of culture and tradition, from an economic as well as a
gastronomic point of view, with strong links with the environment and landscape and with an influence
on many other rural activities.

For example, Tuscany alone has five wines with registered and guaranteed designation of origin (DOCG),
34 wines with registered designation of origin (DOC) and 6 wines with typical geographical indication
(IGT), and is a prominent exporter with annual production of around 2.8 million hectolitres.

This is not to mention the employment capacity of the sector and the image and reputation enjoyed by
vineyards (often handed down from one generation to the next) in the EU and elsewhere, which must be
protected.