WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/02 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Recreational fishing.
Date: 2002-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, common fisheries policy, fishery management, fishing regulations, recreational fishing, restriction on competition

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/81

authorities. If, in this particular case, the Commission finds that Community law has been breached, it will
not hesitate to take the required action against Greece. To facilitate its task, the Commission would ask the
Honourable Member to send it any relevant information he may have.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2)

Judgment of the Court of 13 June 2002, Commission v Hellenic Republic, case C-33/01, not yet published.

(2003/C 110 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/02

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2002)

Subject: Recreational fishing

According to the 28 August edition of the newspaper Diário de Noticias, the ADAPI (association of
industrial fishing-boat owners) estimates that there are more than 20 000 fishing boats operating in
Portugal, ostensibly engaged in recreational fishing, but actually fishing for commercial purposes.

Although these figures cannot of course be confirmed, experience nevertheless shows that this is a
substantial problem in Portugal, and is undoubtedly not confined to that country alone.

In view of the gradual exhaustion of fish stocks, does the Commission not consider it essential to make
provision for monitoring the recreational fishing sector, in order to avoid even more adverse consequences
for the sustainability of fisheries and the conditions of competition in European fisheries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2002)

The Commission does not possess at present and has no intention of instituting in the foreseeable future a
monitoring scheme for the recreational sector of fisheries.

Member States are obliged under existing Community legislation to ensure that all landings of regulated
fish stocks are accurately recorded and that these records are returned to appropriate authorities, including
the Commission.

(2003/C 110 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2652/02

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Commission

(20 September 2002)

Subject: Customs agreements between ports and national authorities

The Antwerp Port Authority has concluded the requisite agreements with the US customs authorities
concerning the organisation of security in the port in order to obtain a security label
from those
authorities under which goods despatched from Antwerp are still admitted to US ports. Ports which do not
have such a label will no longer be permitted to despatch goods to the USA.

European Commissioner Palacio has expressed reservations about this. In her view, the fact that certain
European ports are obtaining security labels (in this case, Antwerp) while others are not may constitute a
breach of European competition provisions.

However, agreements between authorities (the port of Antwerp and the US customs) on the subject of
security fall within the ambit of national sovereignty.

To what extent is the Commission prepared to review its previous position on this matter?