WRITTEN QUESTION E-2098/02 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Galicia, a heavily fisheries-dependent region.
Date: 2002-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Galicia, catch quota, economic analysis, employment policy, fishing industry, fishing rights, region dependent on fishing, regional development

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/183

aspects dealing in particular with the statistical analysis of regional socio-economic data and the
improvement of the coherence between such data. These methodological aspects will be of long tern
rather than short term interest.

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 114.
(2) Council regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 28 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2098/02

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

Subject: Galicia, a ‘heavily fisheries-dependent’ region

(16 July 2002)

In his answer to Written Question E-0650/02 (1) Commissioner Fischler acknowledges that:

(cid:1) Galicia is ‘very dependent on fisheries’;

(cid:1) the studies the Commission was obliged to carry out (Article 14(2) of Regulation 3760/92 (2)) in order
to analyse the degree of dependency on fisheries of European coastal regions were characterised by
defects and incomplete data and that problems had been caused when comparing data from various
countries and that the Commission would continue improving the methodology (sic);

(cid:1) although Galicia is ‘very dependent on fisheries’, it cannot be recognised as such for the purposes of
allocating structural funding, since the concept applies only to Objective 2 and not Objective 1
regions.

Since what we seek is not more structural
opportunities amongst regions dependent on fishing, can the Commission say:

funding but more equity in the distribution of

fishing

1. whether it will take this dependency on fishing into account, not in order to grant more structural
funding, but in order to ensure a greater degree of equity and lack of discrimination in the distribution
of fishing opportunities, according to the degree of dependence;

2. how it will ensure that Galicia, which has been waiting 17 years for the transitional period to end and
the CFP to be reformed, obtains a fairer and more balanced share of the fishing possibilities in
Community waters, bearing in mind that the current distribution was determined by the degree of
dependence on fisheries of the European regions, which at the time did not include Galicia and that
from 1 January 2003 it will enjoy full rights on an equal footing with other European regions or even
more so, owing to its higher degree of dependence?

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 114.
(2) OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

As indicated in the answer given by the Commission to the Honourable Member’s written questions
E-2097/02 and E-2096/02 (1) the concept of fisheries dependence appears in Article 4(8) of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (2) dealing with structural aid to the fisheries sector as an eligibility criteria
for Objective 2 regions. It does not appear in Council regulations dealing with the allocation of fishing
opportunities at Community level and their subdivision into national quotas allocated between Member
States.

(1) See page 180.
(2) Council regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.