WRITTEN QUESTION E-0475/02 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Social conflict caused by the behaviour of young people in pursuit of entertainment.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alcoholism, disaffection of young people, social policy, social problem, young person, youth policy

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/201

(2002/C 172 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0467/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Implementation of programmes under Regulation (EEC) 2078/92 in Greece

Serious irregularities have been reported in the press concerning the implementation of programmes under
Regulation (EEC) 2078/92 (1) and in particular the scheme for long-term set-aside of agricultural land. In
fact the Ministry of Agriculture has announced that investigations would be held into the implementation
of the programmes in the Prefecture of Ioannina to establish whether any maladministration occurred
during the period 1996-1999.

Has the Commission evaluated the implementation of the programmes under Regulation (EEC)

1.
2078/92 in every Member State except in respect of 1997 (COM 94/620)?

Is it aware of 0 and has it investigated 0 the allegations of maladministration in the implementation

2.
of the programme for the long-term set-aside of agricultural land in the Prefecture of Ioannina?

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 85.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

The Commission published a document
(No VI/7655/98) on the evaluation of agri-environment
programmes, which is available from the following website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/envir/
index_en.htm

In addition to this evaluation, the Commission asked the Member States to assess the progress of their
earlier agri-environmental programmes in the new rural development plans for 2000-2006. The
Commission also considered this particular issue when making a general assessment of these plans with a
view to their approval.

The Commission knows about the problems in implementing the programme for the long-term set-aside
of arable land, particularly in the prefecture of Ioannina. On 9 January 2002 it sent a letter to the Greek
authorities asking for thorough controls of all beneficiaries and a detailed report on the matter. The
Commission is also preparing to undertake its own control visit.

(2002/C 172 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0475/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Social conflict caused by the behaviour of young people in pursuit of ‘entertainment’

The recent judgement by the supreme court of justice of Andalusia stipulating that the city authorities of
Seville (Spain) should take measures against the youth movement known as ‘el botellón’ has once again
revealed the need for research with a sociological perspective to be undertaken into the behaviour of
young people in the Community in pursuit of ‘entertainment’.

The conflict between young people and their neighbours in the community is a growing source of concern
and research is needed to identify its causes and propose ways for society to tackle this disturbing issue.

Will the Commission lend its support to tackling this problem, which is affecting many sectors of
Community society, by helping to promote sociological research into this kind of behaviour that will
produce tangible proposals to resolve the conflict?

C 172 E/202

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2002)

The phenomenon to which the Honourable Member refers is recognised by the Commission as an
important issue for policy attention. Within the fields of public health and social policy the Commission
has undertaken a number of research studies investigating the attitudes, behaviour and health of young
people in the Union. In addition, the Commission’s annual report on the social situation, which analyses
the major social trends, will next year give particular focus to health issues in relation to the social
situation. Alcohol consumption, particularly among young people, will be one of the elements to be
addressed.

In relation to the specific case raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission is not in a position to
intervene directly and any such actions remain within the responsibility of the Member States.

(2002/C 172 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0498/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Recovery plan for hake

The plan proposed by the Commission for rebuilding stocks of cod and hake in Community waters is
being strongly contested by the industry, the Member States affected and Parliament itself, particularly with
regard to hake. The reason is the discrepancy between the conclusions of the various scientific reports and
the drastic measures being proposed by the Commission.

Firstly, the conclusions of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), on which the
Commission based its proposal, do not tally with those of the Scientific, Technical and Economic
Committee on Fisheries (STECF). The latter committee is proposing a TAC of 35 000 t for 2002, against
figures of between 16 500 and 22 000 t being quoted by the Commission. The committee’s assessment is
backed up by scientific research carried out in the area, for example by the Spanish oceanographic ship
Vizconde de Eza.

Secondly, Parliament, the Member States affected and the industry are advocating a recovery plan for hake
which would be implemented step-by-step over a longer period of time, thus cushioning the socio-
economic impact and avoiding the irreversible measures of
fleet decommissioning and job losses.
Specifically, Parliament is calling for the plan to be implemented over a period of at least seven years,
rather than the five proposed by the Commission. Moreover,
the Commission does not appear to
understand that the problems are different for cod and for hake, and that the measures to be taken must
therefore also be different.

What is the Commission’s view of the opposition voiced by Parliament, the countries concerned and the
industry with regard to its proposal for hake? Will it take account of the scientific reports on hake stocks
which refute the critical state of stocks on which the Commission has based its drastic proposal? Will the
Commission draw up a global socio-economic risk analysis of the plan’s implications in the short and
medium term, as Parliament has demanded? Is the Commission aware of the scientific research conducted
in the area which confirms that there has been a substantial deterioration in the state of hake stocks in
zone VIII (Bay of Biscay and French coast), but that the situation is better in zones VI and VII (Irish Box)?
Has the Commission not considered submitting a fresh proposal?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2002)

Industry agrees that cod stocks in Community waters are depleted. There is less concordance of opinion
with respect to hake.