WRITTEN QUESTION P-1964/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Problems concerning aid to the Galician surface fleet during biological pauses.
Date: 2002-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, European Commission, FIFG, Galicia, fishing industry, fishing season, operation of the Institutions, seasonal unemployment

C 309 E/180

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

The group proposed a number of ideas. One of the recommendations contained in the final report is that
the communication about Europe should be improved and made more attractive in order to be understood
and shared by citizens. The barcode design, reproduced in some media, is the work of a distinguished
Dutch architect and designer, Rem Koolhaas, and was intended to be one example of how this could be
realised. It was not, however, proposed to replace the Union flag.

The project ‘Brussels, capital of Europe’ did not have any formal Community status and the Commission
has no intention to propose a new emblem.

(2002/C 309 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1964/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(28 June 2002)

Subject: Problems concerning aid to the Galician surface fleet during biological pauses

According to recent media reports (e.g. in the 15 May 2002 issue of the newspaper ‘La Voz de Galicia’),
the Commission now appears unwilling (cid:1) thus departing from its practice in earlier years (cid:1) to grant the
Galician regional government (the Xunta) the funding under the FIFG which is needed to compensate
fishermen and vessel owners in the surface fleet for the biological pause which that fleet had to observe in
March.

In view of the fragile state of the sardine stocks, it has been necessary to adopt exceptional measures for
the Galician fleet. These measures are set out in a three-year recovery plan for the species.

The above-mentioned press report also states, citing the Xunta as a source, that the Commission appears
unwilling to grant compensatory aid for this year’s biological pause (the third and last provided for under
the plan), and that it has written to the regional administration asking for more details concerning the
pause.

The numerous fishermen and vessel owners affected by this development now wish the Commission to
provide reliable information.

Does the Commission intend to grant aid under the FIFG in respect of this fleet’s biological pause for
2002?

Can the Commission explain the reasons for the problems which have arisen over the granting of aid for
this year? Can it explain why, having granted such aid for the last two years, it now appears unwilling to
do so for this year?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2002)

A recovery plan for sardines to be part-financed by the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance was
notified to the Commission by the Spanish authorities in March 2002. The dossier is currently being
studied by the Commission in accordance with the rules of procedure applying to aid granted to the sector
by the Member States.

Following that notification and an initial scrutiny of the plan, a request for additional information was
made to the Spanish authorities in April 2002. That information was forwarded to the Commission in
mid-June. Since the plan is a recovery plan for the resource, the Commission will be submitting the
information transmitted by the Spanish authorities to the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee
for Fisheries for its opinion, in accordance with Article 16(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999
of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural
assistance in the fisheries sector (1).

The information in question will be submitted to the Scientific Committee in the course of July 2002, and
the Commission will take a decision as soon as it has received the Scientific Committee’s opinion.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.