WRITTEN QUESTION E-0452/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Relations between the EU and Chile and the landing of catches in Chilean ports.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Chile, bilateral agreement, conservation of fish stocks, fishing agreement, free-trade agreement, harbour installation, law of the sea, negotiation of an agreement (EU), quantity of fish landed

C 229 E/88

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

(2002/C 229 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0452/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Relations between the EU and Chile and the landing of catches in Chilean ports

The satisfactory progress of the negotiations on the final chapters of the free-trade agreement between the
EU and Chile should enable that agreement to be concluded during the current half year, as an expression
of the close political and trade relations between the EU and Chile.

There is, however, one thing spoiling those relations, namely the Chilean authorities’ ban on Community
fishing vessels landing their catches in Chilean ports. A whole year after the EU and Chile reached an
agreement on the subject, Community fishermen are still prevented from landing their catches in Chilean
ports and are therefore required to do so in Peru, which leads to a significant increase in costs and
distances.

The Chilean Government
operating outside its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. This is an infringement of international
under which freedom of navigation in international waters is guaranteed.

is apparently attempting to impose obligations on Community fishermen
law,

What action has the Commission taken (or is it going to take) in order to enable Community fishermen to
land their catches in Chilean ports? Has the Commission thought of making the negotiation of the free-
trade agreement (which includes Chilean fish exports to the EU) conditional upon the effective granting of
the right actually to land catches in Chilean ports?

Does the Commission not feel that a regional fisheries organisation in the South Pacific (whose remit
would also cover sword fish) would solve this problem and also lead to better conservation of resources?

Reply given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2002)

The Community and Chile came to an arrangement in January 2001 under which the proceedings which
the Community had initiated in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as well as those which Chile had
launched in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), were suspended.

This arrangement was negotiated independently of
interrelated strands:

the free-trade agreement, and consists of

three

9 a joint fisheries and research programme, under which four Community boats would have access to

three Chilean ports;

9 continued technical and scientific bilateral cooperation;

9 multilateral cooperation to conserve swordfish stocks in the South-East Pacific.

Implementation of the first part of the arrangement 9 the joint fisheries and research programme 9 was
conditional on finalising certain practical/technical aspects. The Commission and the Chilean authorities
have held several meetings to settle these questions which had been left hanging; the technical aspects have
now been resolved, and the programme can finally get underway. Once the Commission has received the
names of the participating boats, it will submit the list to Chile, and the programme can then be launched.

As regards the second strand, the Bilateral Scientific and Technical Committee (BSTC) met in May 2001.
Members held an exchange of information on fishing activities in the area concerned, as well as an
exchange of views on the condition of swordfish stocks.

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/89

As regards the possibility of setting up a new regional fisheries organisation for the South-East Pacific, the
Commission agrees that multilateral cooperation is the best way of ensuring long-term resource
conservation. The third strand of the agreement therefore provides for the Community and Chile to
launch a joint initiative to develop multilateral cooperation.

In this context, several of the parties involved with swordfish fisheries in the South-East Pacific will be
invited to take part in an international consultation exercise to be held in Chile in May 2002. The main
goal of this meeting is to define terms of reference and identify the most appropriate form for multilateral
cooperation on sword fish conservation in the region.

(2002/C 229 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0453/02

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council

Subject: EU foreign policy vis-à-vis Morocco and Western Sahara

(27 February 2002)

In response to the 29 January 2002 opinion drawn up by the UN’s Legal Affairs Department on the extent
and the legal implications of Morocco’s presence in Western Sahara (stemming from the oil-exploration
agreements concluded between Morocco and certain oil companies operating in the waters of Western
Sahara), it is understood that there is to be a major shift in the EU’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Morocco.

Pursuant to Article 21 of the EU Treaty, what action does the Council intend to take with a view to
applying the abovementioned legal opinion to the EU’s relations with Morocco as regards the latter
country’s involvement in Western Sahara?

(2002/C 229 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0575/02

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Council position on the situation in Western Sahara

(27 February 2002)

In view of the opinion delivered by the UN Legal Affairs Department on 29 January 2002 concerning the
legal
implications of contracts signed by the Kingdom of Morocco with oil companies to explore for
mineral resources on the Saharan coast, what is the Council’s common position on the matter? What
stance does it take regarding this assessment of the sovereignty and status of administrative power
exercised by the Kingdom of Morocco?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0453/02 and P-0575/02

(26 June 2002)

The Western Sahara question is currently being debated in the UN Security Council. The Council
is
following the discussions closely and fully supports the efforts of the UN to find a lasting and stable
solution. It is in regular contact with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr James Baker and with
all parties to the conflict and is willing to contribute to establishing a climate of confidence between the
parties concerned in order to facilitate an acceptable solution.

The Council has to date not adopted a formal position on the opinion delivered by the UN Legal Affairs
Department.