WRITTEN QUESTION E-3580/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Seizure of the Galician fishing vessel Lameiro Uno by a Moroccan patrol ship.
Date: 2002-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU competence, Morocco, Spain, fishing area, fishing vessel, law of the sea

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/147

(2002/C 160 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3579/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(9 January 2002)

Subject: Inclusion of Galicia in the development of airport capacity as one of the priority actions laid down

in the White Paper on European transport policy

In the White Paper on European transport policy (1) the development of airport capacity is regarded as one
of the constituent parts of that policy. How does the upgrading of the airport at Santiago de Compostela
(in Galicia) to international status fit into the policy? What is the Spanish Government’s timetable for the
project and how much funding is it to be allocated?

(1) COM(2001) 370 final.

Reply

(25/26 March 2002)

The Decision 1692/96/EC on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport
network (TEN) (1) awards the status of ‘Community connecting point’ for the airport at Santiago de
Compostela (in Galicia); as such, the aforementioned airport is eligible for Community co-financing.

The Council underlines that the decision regarding the actual implementation of a particular project related
to airport capacity and use lies with the national authorities. It is for the Commission, assisted by the TEN
committee, to monitor 8 through the exchange of information 8 the plans and programmes notified by
Member States with a view to development of the trans-European network.

The Council furthermore recalls that the Commission in its White Paper announces its intention to launch
a reflection regarding airport capacity and use in 2002. On the basis of the result of this exercise, the
Commission will integrate, if necessary, projects regarding airports in the framework of its proposal for a
large revision of the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network,
due in 2004.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2002/C 160 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3580/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(9 January 2002)

Subject: Seizure of the Galician fishing vessel Lameiro Uno by a Moroccan patrol ship

On 26 November 2001 the Marín-based Galician fishing vessel Lameiro Uno with its 13-strong crew (nine
Galicians and four Mauritanians) was seized by a Moroccan patrol ship. The seizure took place whilst the
vessel was returning to its anchorage in Mauritanian waters, as is attested by satellite evidence held by the
Spanish Government which disproves the Moroccan Government’s accusation that the vessel was fishing
illegally. Has the Council any information regarding this seizure and the circumstances in which it
occurred? What action is the Council intending to take vis-à-vis the Moroccan Government in order to
remedy the situation in which the crew members and their vessel currently find themselves?

C 160 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

Reply

(25/26 March 2002)

The matter of the seizure of the Galician fishing vessel referred to by the Honourable Member has not
been formally submitted to the Council.

In the absence of a fisheries agreement between the Community and Morocco, all Parties are required to
respect the rules of international law. It is thus for the flag state to make the appropriate representations to
the Moroccan Government.

(2002/C 160 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3581/01

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Suspected cases of fraud and favouritism in the Commission

In the resolution which it adopted on 29 November 2001 on the annual report on the fight against fraud
(A5-0393/2001), the European Parliament criticised the time being taken to investigate suspected cases of
fraud and favouritism in the European Commission. In paragraph 21 thereof, it recalled that a former
Member of the Commission had been accused of having misused official vehicles for private purposes.

Ii also recalled that a former female Member of the Commission had been accused of irregular conduct as
regards the award of several contracts to a firm with which she had connections, shortly before her taking
up office as a Commissioner, of having an expensive apartment in Brussels made available free of charge
to one of her advisers and of having contracts for inconsequential studies and research awarded to a
German lawyer as cover so that he could visit her office and, possibly, gain access to, and influence,
sensitive cases (Leuna affair) with which the Commission was dealing at that time.

Parliament called once again on the Commission to bring an action, where appropriate, before the
European Court of Justice under Article 213 of the EC Treaty for breach of obligations by former Members
of the Commission.

Can the Commission indicate the action which it is currently taking in order to comply with Parliament’s
call?

Can it also indicate when the former Commissioners involved were interviewed, or will be interviewed, in
connection with these accusations?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) has stated that it is conducting an investigation into the use of
staff vehicles by a former Commissioner due to be completed shortly.

With regard to the other former Commissioner referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission
would point out that a criminal investigation into several aspects of the dossier is still under way before
the examining magistrate in Brussels. OLAF is monitoring the case in conjunction with the Belgian
authorities.

As was stated in the answer given by the Commission to written question E-4073/00 by the Honourable
Member (1), the Commission is carrying out an administrative enquiry into one of the specific points of the
European Parliament resolution referred to by the Honourable Member.