WRITTEN QUESTION E-0247/02 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Answer to written question P-3373/01 on relations between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority.
Date: 2002-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Palestine question, cooperation policy, fund (EU), international relations, management audit, project management

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/167

The Community contributed actively to the preparation of the international plan of action for reducing
incidental catches of seabirds in longline fisheries. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its
contracting parties subsequently approved the international plan. This approval entails the voluntary
elaboration of a plan of action at State level. Therefore, the Community is preparing a Community action
plan to be presented at the next Committee for Fisheries (COFI, February 2003). At this stage, the
Community has presented at the last COFI (February 2001) a preliminary plan of action in which the need
for a better assessment of the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries is underlined.

Whenever Regional Fisheries Organisation to which the Community is a contracting party has agreed on
measures to protect seabirds these measures have been implemented in Community legislation.

The following measures have been taken by the Council for the Conservation of Antarctic Maríne Living
Resources, (CCAMLR to which the Community is party), in Antarctic waters, and been incorporated into
Community Fishing legislation (1), (2):

. using bird-scaring line with plastic streamers attached;

. weighting the lines so that they sink faster and pose less risk;

. prohibiting the discharge of offal at sea, which attracts seabirds to the lines;

. setting the longlines at night, when albatrosses and other seabirds are less likely to be foraging;

. using only thawed bait.

Some or all of these measures might be considered for other areas as required. However, whatever measure
is proposed, it should be adopted and implemented in the framework of the Common Fishery policy. As a
general principle, Commission will propose measures aiming at avoiding the impact from longline fishing
on seabirds when and where there is sound evidence on the existence of the problem and on the need of
Community action to properly address it.

There is no clear evidence on the extent to which the problem occurs in Community waters or in relation
to fishing activities by Community vessels outside the CCAMLAR convention area. Thus, answers from
Member States to the Commission’s request of information when preparing the Community Action Plan
for reducing incidental catches of seabirds in longline fishing, did not indicate that Member States
perceived this as a problem in their fisheries.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures
applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2113/96, OJ L 6, 10.1.1998.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2479/98 of 12 November 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 66/98 laying down

certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic, OJ L 309, 19.11.1998.

(2002/C 172 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0247/02

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Answer to written question P-3373/01 on relations between the European Union and the

Palestinian Authority

In its answer of 15 January 2002 to written question P-3373/01 (1) the Commission, instead of answering
the queries concerning the relations between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority, makes a
detailed analysis of the role and work of the IMF,
in which it guarantees that the European funding
devoted to direct support for the Palestinian Authority is being used properly.

C 172 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

What the questioner wanted and still wants to know is: between January and December 2001 how much
European funding (in euro) was spent or allocated to the Palestinian Authority, under what heading
(budget item and project title), to what entity it was paid (if other than the Palestinian Authority), what
funding was subjected to controls and checks by what entity and what the results were?

(1) See page 44.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2002)

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2002/C 172 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0255/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 February 2002)

Subject: Disposal of fridges . EC Regulation 2037/2000

The United Kingdom is facing severe difficulties in implementing EC Regulation 2037/2000 (1) which
requires the recovery of CFCs and HCFCs from insulating foam in domestic refrigerators, because it does
not yet have a treatment plant in operation.

Is the Commission aware of other Member States facing similar problems, and did it receive, or has it
received, representations from other Member States about this issue?

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2002)

The Commission conducted a survey of Member States
in February 2001 on the recovery of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from domestic refrigerators. This, together with other information, shows
that a significant number of Member States . Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland and Sweden
. already use commercial
including the
insulating foam. Currently, Austria has its refrigerators treated in another Member State and Luxembourg
relies on a mobile recovery facility that comes from Germany. Four other Member States . Belgium,
Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands . have indicated that they have some facilities for recovering the
CFCs from domestic refrigerators but they still have to provide the details. Overall it can be concluded that
the majority of Member States are not facing difficulties recovering CFCs from domestic refrigerators.

facilities for recovering CFCs from domestic refrigerators,

The remaining Member States . Greece, France, Ireland and Portugal . still have to provide information
on the systems that they have in place or their absence for recovering CFCs from domestic refrigerators.
Initial indications are that Greece, France, Ireland and Portugal . still have to put in place appropriate
commercial systems for recovering all the CFCs from domestic refrigerators and freezers. However, they
would still be in compliance with the Regulation mentioned by the Honourable Member if used domestic
refrigerators were stored until recycling and recovery facilities are put in place.

The Commission has recently contacted the Member States in order to update its information on CFC
recovery facilities for domestic refrigerators and freezers.