WRITTEN QUESTION P-3106/01 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission. Impact study on the EBA initiative.
Date: 2001-11-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU production, economic consequence, least-developed country, market access, peripheral region, single market

C 115 E/226

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

The Commission is aware of the problem referred to by the Honourable Members.

Community rules on fishing already severely limit the quantities of fish that may be taken as accidental
catches in industrial fisheries.

As part of its current work on redrafting the Community’s Regulation on Technical Measures (1) in the
context of a recovery plan for North Sea cod, the Commission is considering a further reduction of the
permitted percentage of species such as cod, haddock and whiting which may be retained in catches of
industrial species. The current by-catch limits for other species would be maintained.

As regards the enforcement of the above Community rules, up to 20 % of the landings of industrial catches
in Denmark are sampled by the inspection authorities. The Danish authorities detected this infringement of
Community rules and have imposed an administrative sanction on the fisherman concerned. His fishing
licence for industrial species has been revoked for one month. If there is repetition of the offence, the
sanctions will become increasingly severe.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical

measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms 4 OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.

(2002/C 115 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3106/01

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Impact study on the EBA initiative

The ‘Everything But Arms’ initiative was adopted by the Council on 26 February 2001. It allows duty-free
and quota-free access to the Community market for all products originating in the last developed countries
(LDCs), except arms and arm munitions; as such, it is not risk-free for producers as a whole in the most
remote regions.

It is to be feared, for example, that some rice, sugar, banana or rum producers in overseas departments will
be unable to contend with LDC producers on equal terms.

The Commission, being alive to the problem, undertook in its work programme of 12 June 2001 on the
sustainable development strategy for the most remote regions to initiate an impact assessment on the
Regulation during the second half of 2001.

Could the Commission provide a progress report on the impact assessment and, at the very least, say what
its terms of reference are?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2001)

The Commission can confirm that preparations for an impact assessment of the Partnership Agreement
between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Community (the ACP-EU Partnership
Agreement) and the ‘Everything But Arms’
the
assessment in early 2002.

initiative are well advanced.

It expects to conduct

16.5.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/227

In line with the approach set out in the Commission report on measures to implement Article 299(2) (1),
the assessment will analyse the possibilities and questions raised by the two instruments referred to above
and make recommendations both to the Commission and the outermost regions. The terms of reference
are still being defined in detail by the Commission.

(1) COM(2000) 147 final.

(2002/C 115 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3109/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Procedures for awarding European Social Fund grants to universities

Under the current procedure for the European Social Fund (ESF), grants are awarded to students on a
calendar year basis from January to December, although the academic year runs from September to July
and notification of funding is not received by the university until the preceding October/ November.
Students who are dependent on this funding therefore start a course in September in the knowledge that
resources are guaranteed only until December, with funding from January dependent on a successful ESF
bid.

Is the ESF grant procedure applied in every Member State in the same way?

Does the Commission intend to change or to review these procedures?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2001)

Procedures for awarding grants to universities depend upon the managing and paying authorities in each
of the Member States and not upon the Commission. The problems referred to by the Honourable Member
should therefore be addressed to the responsible authority in the Member State.

Commitments for assistance over a period of two or more years are usually effected annually, and
pluriannuel grants may therefore be applied pro rata to the corresponding academic year.

(2002/C 115 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3118/01

by Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Leader+

On 14 April 2000 the Commission approved guidelines addressed to the Member States for the new
Community initiative Leader+ (2000-2006). The Member States were called on to submit their proposals
for programmes within six months of the publication of the notice.

In mid-November 2000 the Free State of Bavaria consequently submitted its draft to the Agriculture
Directorate-General of the European Commission, via the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food
and Agriculture. The Commission had originally promised that
the approval procedure would be
completed within five months.