WRITTEN QUESTION E-0604/02 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tuna steaks and Mexico.
Date: 2002-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mexico, common tariff policy, fishery product, negotiation of an agreement (EU), preferential agreement, tariff quota

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/169

overview, based on information provided by the Member States, of the situation in the Community and in
each Member State. Evaluation of this information will put the Commission in a position to take the
necessary steps to ensure that all Member States comply fully with Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000.

(1) OJ C 172 E, 18.7.2002, p. 168.

(2002/C 205 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/02

by Hans Modrow (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Use of unoccupied housing in border regions

(6 March 2002)

1.
There is a large number of unoccupied houses in many of the towns and municipalities on the EU’s
external border along the Oder and Niesse rivers. In Görlitz, on the German side, 25 % of housing is
unoccupied, while in Zgorzelec, on the Polish side, the number of empty dwellings is just as high. Would
the Commission have any misgivings about Germany providing housing for Polish citizens?

2. Would the Commission provide funding to support such a project in Görlitz and would it make the
necessary recommendations to the public authorities in the border regions as well as to the German and
Polish governments?

3.
Does the Commission think that similar projects could receive support in other border regions, for
example projects between Germany and the Czech Republic or between other Member States which share
a border with applicant countries?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2002)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that matters concerning the renting of housing
are governed by the private law of the Member States so that it has no standing on such questions.

The Structural Funds have no legal basis which would permit the Commission to support the provision of
housing in Germany for Polish citizens. Specifically, Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999 of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund (1), which defines
the scope of this Fund, contains no provision for housing assistance.

the strand of

the Interreg III Community Initiative concerned with cross-border
However, under
cooperation,
the housing required for Polish nationals to participate effectively in projects being
implemented in Germany, such as training periods in firms or language courses, could be considered
eligible as part of a wider cooperation project. Such eligibility would naturally apply to all the frontier
regions of the Union.

(1) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.

(2002/C 205 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0604/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Tuna steaks and Mexico

(6 March 2002)

On the basis of a study of the demand for tuna steak supplies which assessed the supply of tuna steaks to
the Community market in the short and medium term, the Commission decided to open an annual quota
of 4 000 tonnes at a 6 % preferential rate of duty for the period 2001 to 2003, within the COM in
fisheries and aquaculture products.

C 205 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

The EU has also agreed with Mexico to study C no later than 1 September 2001 C the possibility of
opening a quota for tuna steak at a preferential rate of duty under the free trade agreement.

Can the Commission provide information on the state of play of these negotiations with Mexico?

Since the quota of 4 000 tonnes of tuna steak at a 6 % preferential rate of duty was not exhausted in either
of the two years (2000 and 2001) of its existence so far, can the Commission state whether it believes it
necessary to open a new quota for tuna steaks from other countries on the basis of a preferential rate of
duty, as in the Mexican case?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2002)

In Article 10(5) of Decision No 2/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council (1) the parties undertook to begin
discussions to examine the possibility of opening a preferential tariff rate quota for tuna steaks before
1 January 2002.

At the EC-Mexico Joint Committee meeting on 2 October 2001 the Mexican authorities made a formal
request to the Commission for the discussions to begin. In November and December the Commission and
the Mexican authorities held technical level meetings to explore the possibilities of opening a quota. No
further meetings are scheduled at present.

On the second part of his question the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commission’s reply to
his written question E-1156/01 (2).

(1) COM(2002) 125 final.
(2) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001.

(2002/C 205 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Opening of Chilean ports to unloading by EU fishing vessels

(6 March 2002)

Despite the EU-Chile agreement reached in January 2001, following a complaint to the WTO by the
Commission (at the urging of EU shipowners), the Chilean authorities are still maintaining obstructive
practices, enforcing a set of rules and controls over catch unloading in international waters which have
given rise to repeated complaints from the EU fisheries sector.

1.

2.

Is the Commission aware of these Chilean rules, which may be in breach of international law?

Is the Commission aware of the Chilean authorities’ obstructive practices vis-à-vis the EU fleet?

Can the Commission state what action it has taken or intends to take with regard to Chile in this

3.
context?

4. What measures has the Commission taken with a view to establishing a Regional Fisheries
Organisation for the southern Pacific, which would manage fish stocks in international waters which are
of major interest for the EU fleet?