WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/02 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European regions dependent on fisheries.
Date: 2002-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: economic analysis, fishing industry, fishing regulations, labour market, region dependent on fishing, regional development, regional economy, report

C 28 E/180

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

Germany two weeks. In addition, Austrian legislation excludes Saturday as a working day, whilst Italian
legislation does not refer to the issue (therefore leaving the last word to the courts).

Is it acceptable for cancellation periods to differ so greatly between Member States?

Do directives or regulations exist which regulate the term ‘working day’? If so, is Saturday considered a
working day or not?

Does the trader have a specific obligation to inform the consumer of the cancellation period?

(1) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997, p. 19.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

Directive 97/7/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in
respect of distance contracts (1) is a so-called ‘minimum harmonisation directive’ which allows Member
States to ‘introduce or maintain more stringent provisions compatible with the Treaty, to ensure a higher
level of consumer protection’ (Article 14) than the common level set in the Directive. Differing cancellation
periods that are more favourable to the consumer, as mentioned by the Honourable Member, are therefore
permitted. However, the Commission, has started a broad debate about the future of Union consumer
legislation in its Green paper on Union consumer protection (2) that includes the question of complete
harmonisation of cancellation periods of consumer directives.

Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 of the Council of 3 June 1971 determining the rules applicable to
periods, dates and time limits (3), that applies to acts of the Council or the Commission establishes a
definition of ‘working days’ as meaning all days other than public holidays, Sundays and Saturdays
(Article 2(2)).

Article 4(1)(f) of Directive 97/7/EC requires the supplier to provide the consumer, in good time, prior to
the conclusion of any distance contract with information about the existence of a right of withdrawal
(subject to some limited exemptions). The consumer must receive written confirmation of this during the
performance of the contract unless the information has already been given to the consumer prior to the
conclusion of the contract in writing. As well as in ‘writing’, the supplier can also send such information in
another durable medium, for example, by electronic mail.

(1) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997.
(2) COM(2001) 531 final.
(3) OJ L 124, 8.6.1971.

(2003/C 28 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/02

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

Subject: European regions dependent on fisheries

(16 July 2002)

In his answer to Written Question E-0650/02 (1) of 12 April 2002, Commissioner Fischler acknowledges
that there were defects in the analysis of the degree of dependency on fisheries of European coastal regions
and that the Commission would continue ‘improving the methodology’ (sic).

In practical terms, for this purpose, Mr Fischler indicated that a Community research project had been
‘Elaboration et application d’un modèle calculable d’équilibre général à
launched (QLTR-2000-02277:
l’analyse de la contribution des activités halieutiques au développement
régional’, as well as a
methodological study to establish socio-economic indicators to determine the relative importance of the
fishery sector in the regions or zones most dependent on fisheries, with the aim of evaluating and
comparing the impact of other management measures on the economic development of these regions or
zones.

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Does not the Commission consider that these projects should be carried out prior to the reform of the CFP
in order to take account of all the data needed to carry it out with greater precision?

The Commissioner went on to say that it was necessary to await the results of these studies before
deciding what further steps to take on the subject.

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in these studies?

If they have been completed, can it say what conclusions were reached and what measures will be adopted
on the basis of them?

If not, when are the studies expected to be completed?

Can the Commission say whether it has already adopted any other initiative to improve its methodology in
this area?

Can the Commission say whether the current work will have any impact on the reform which is awaiting
approval by the EP and the Council?

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 114.

(2003/C 28 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/02

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

(16 July 2002)

Subject: Criteria for the classification of ‘heavily fisheries-dependent’ regions

In his answer to Written Question E-0650/02 (1) of 12 April 2002, Commissioner Fischler said that the
Commission Green Paper on the future of the common fisheries policy included a report on the economic
and social situation of coastal regions based on data obtained by the Commission via its own internal
research or specific external studies. In order to measure in detail to what extent European regions depend
on fisheries, 22 regional studies were carried out, one of which dealt specifically with Northern Spain
(Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country), and on which the report is to a great extent based.
The conclusions suggest that some areas in northern Spain, in particular Galicia, are in fact very dependent
on fisheries.

Can the Commission say whether it has carried out a comparative study of the 22 regional studies in
1.
order to determine the degree of dependence, and in what order, of the various European regions and, if
so, what the conclusions are? If not, why has it not carried out such a study? Does it not consider that a
comparative study of all the European regions dependent on fisheries should be carried out in order to
define their comparative degree of dependence?

Can the Commission state the criteria for classifying a region as ‘heavily fisheries-dependent’ for the

2.
purposes of allocating fishing opportunities?

3. What is the difference between a ‘heavily fisheries-dependent’ region and a region ‘very dependent on
fisheries’, such as Galicia, according to Community criteria?

Does the Commission not consider it necessary, in accordance with the Community legal concept of
4.
the progressivity principle, to update the list of ‘heavily fisheries-dependent’ regions, now that the current
one has been in force for 20 years, and include new regions dependent on fisheries, because of the various
accessions of new Member States such as Spain and Portugal?

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 114.