WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ban on drift nets in the EU.
Date: 2001-11-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, application of EU law, conservation of fish stocks, fishing net, fishing regulations

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/231

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

The Commission has in the meantime received additional
information concerning the cost of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) tests and the financing of certain measures linked to the fight against
BSE. This information is currently being assessed. Since part of this information has only become available
recently, this assessment has not been finalised. Once this has been done, the Commission will decide what
further steps shall be taken, and to what extent further harmonisation concerning aid to meet the costs of
BSE testing and animal meal processing is necessary. It is not possible to indicate a timescale yet.

The Commission does not think that the fact that operators are taking advantage of lower cost slaughter
facilities or cheaper BSE tests in other Member States is a bad thing. It is rather an indication of a
functioning internal market. The possibility of using cheaper slaughterhouses and taking advantage of
lower costs for BSE tests in other Member States should increase overall pressure on the transformation
sector to lower prices and become more competitive. Competition between registered BSE test laboratories
in the Community should be allowed. All this would be to the advantage of farmers, and be in line with
the objectives of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of
the market in beef and veal (1).

However, if the Honourable Member has information available which would show that cross-border trade
is being distorted by illegal state aids, the Commission would ask him to provide any such information to
the Commission.

In the meantime, the attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the fact that, after having
given the Member State concerned the opportunity to ask for the deletion of business secrets, all
decisions taken by the Commission concerning state aid related to BSE measures are made publicly
available on the internet, under the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat general/sgb/
droit com/index en.htm#aides.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 115 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 November 2001)

Subject: Ban on drift nets in the EU

Can the Commission confirm that drift-net fishing within the EU will be banned with effect from
1 January 2002?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2001)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 of 8 June 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 894/97 laying down
certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources (1) bans from 1 January 2002 those
driftnets targeting certain species, including tunas, tuna-like fishes, swordfish, all cephalopods and some
pelagic sharks.

As from 1 January 2002 the Commission will be taking the necessary steps to verify that Member States
are adequately enforcing Community legislation banning the use of driftnets on highly migratory species. If
this is not the case, the infringement procedures available to the Commission will be applied against the
relevant Member State.

(1) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998.