WRITTEN QUESTION P-3511/01 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Seed bank for the world's crop species.
Date: 2001-12-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to information, biodiversity, conservation of resources, crop production, exchange of information, plant resources, seed

C 134 E/240

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

On the role of different methods in the incidental catch of dolphins:

(cid:18) The Commission is unaware of any validated scientific agreement that pelagic trawls are the main
contributors to deaths of dolphins and to what extent
the use of this fishing gear puts their
populations at risk; this is precisely the kind of information which is so far missing from the scientific
community.

(cid:18) Moreover, although some Member States subsidise the building of fishing vessels using national and
Community funds, it is not always pre-determined whether these vessels will use pelagic or bottom
trawls all their life time. Vessels can change gear with relatively minor modifications. The Commission
is not therefore in a position to guarantee that a given newly-built vessel will or will not use pelagic
trawls.

On the Commission’s responsibilities:

(cid:18) The Commission is prepared to propose the amendment of legislation on fishing gears on the basis of
the best available scientific information, and taking into account the risks for populations of sensitive
species. The Commission is in particular prepared to contribute to international efforts to conduct
responsible fisheries, as it was the case for driftnets, and whenever similar concerns are raised by the
international fishing community on any other fishery, including pelagic trawling.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 134 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3511/01

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 December 2001)

Subject: Seed bank for the world’s crop species

For several years negotiations have been under way on a charter for a new system which would seek to
preserve the stocks of crop seed gathered so far and the complex genetic heritage they represent for the
common use of humanity (Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture). The
Commission is responsible for the whole of the EU’s agricultural policy, which includes the proper use and
development of crop varieties. Is the Commission a party to the negotiations on the preservation of
existing seed banks for free common use, and what stage are these negotiations currently at, with regard
inter alia to the issue of whether these genetic resources are for sale to private undertakings?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2002)

The Community, represented by the Commission, has been a party to the negotiation of a revised
‘International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture’. These negotiations were
finalised with a new ‘International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture’, approved
by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Conference on 3 November 2001. The agreement is
open for signature until 4 November 2002. The Community and its Member States are initiating
procedures for signature and subsequent accession.

Facilitated access to such genetic resources of the Contracting Parties and in the public domain will be
provided through a multilateral system, currently covering 35 of the world’s most important food crops
and 29 forages. The Contracting Parties also agreed to encourage natural and legal persons within their
jurisdiction who hold such resources to include them in the multilateral system. This system shall further
include ex situ collections of the International Agricultural Research Centers of the Consultative Group of
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and other relevant international institutions.

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/241

Access will be provided free of charge, or, when a fee is charged, it shall not exceed the minimal cost
involved. Contracting Parties and legal and natural persons under their jurisdiction can be recipients,
including private undertakings. However, access will only be provided for research, breeding and training
for food and agriculture, and recipients can not claim any intellectual property or other rights that limit
the facilitated access. Benefits arising from the use of resources accessed under the multilateral system shall
be shared through exchange of information, access to and transfer of technology, and capacity building.
Moreover, each recipient who commercialises a product that is a plant genetic resource for food and
agriculture and that incorporates material accessed from the multilateral system, shall pay an equitable
share of the benefits arising to a financial mechanism, except where such a product is available without
restriction to others for further research and breeding; in that latter case he shall be encouraged to make
such a payment.

(2002/C 134 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3516/01

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Fragmentation of the single internal market and the responsibilities of the Member States

According to a report drawn up by the Commission, Greece is lagging furthest behind in the process of
harmonising the internal market and has the biggest backlog of Community legislation to be implemented
with a total of 114 directives yet to be incorporated into national law.

How will the Commission respond to the failure to create the internal market as yet, and to the problems
ensuing therefrom?

How will it deal with the countries which are responsible for the high level of fragmentation of the
internal market that currently exists?

What is the cost to European citizens of the failure to establish the single internal market in due time?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2002)

According to the latest Internal Market Scoreboard (November 2001), Greece has a transposition deficit of
3 %, which corresponds to 44 directives which have not yet been implemented. Even if Greece, although
not alone, still runs the highest deficit of all Member States, its deficit has been considerably reduced
recently. In May 2001, the Greek deficit stood at 4,8 % (or 71 late directives).

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that late transposition fragments the Internal Market
and undercuts its ability to create growth and jobs. The Commission systematically launches infringement
proceedings according to Articles 226-228 (ex Articles 169-171) of the EC Treaty once the transposition
deadline has passed. In addition, the ‘naming and shaming’ approach, adopted in the Internal Market
Scoreboard, has been largely effective in that the average transposition deficit has diminished from 6,3 % in
November 1997, when the first Scoreboard was published, to 2 % today. Furthermore, it is expected that a
majority of Member States will meet the target of 98,5 % of directives transposed by March 2002
(Barcelona European Council), as agreed by the Stockholm European Council, on 23 and 24 March 2001.
The Commission would be in favour of the Barcelona European Council fixing an even more ambitious
target for the near future to keep up the pressure on Member States to implement on time.