WRITTEN QUESTION E-2808/02 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. Common fisheries policy reform — 12-mile exclusive zone.
Date: 2002-10-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, fishery management, fishing regulations, shellfish farming, territorial waters

C 137 E/122

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

The reference made by the Honourable Member to ‘impressions’ related to the Court of Justice appears to
overlook the letter of 15 July sent to her by the Court which confirmed the opinion of that Institution that
the weighted transfer system defined in the Staff Regulations also lawfully applies to Members of the
Commission, the Court of Auditors and the Court of Justice. The Commission understands that on 12 June
the Members of the Court of Justice followed the same course as members of the Court of Auditors and of
the Commission and suspended use of the weighted transfer system.

In a letter of 9 October 2002 to Vice-President Kinnock, however, the Court of Justice informed the
Commission that, following reflection,
it had reaffirmed its view that the weighted transfer system as
applied to Members of the Institutions always has been, and continues to be, legal and in full conformity
with the rules. Accordingly, the Court of Justice has ended its suspension of the weighted transfer system,
and has consequently decided to apply the weighted transfers for its Members on the same conditions as
those applicable to officials. A copy of that letter will be sent to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s Secretariat.

The Commission confirms that no Member of the Commission who is not a national of the United
Kingdom has carried out transfers to that country.

(1) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 164.
(2) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002, p. 162.
(3) Regulation No 422/67/EEC, 5/67/Euratom of the Council of 25 July 1967 determining the emoluments of the
President and members of the Commission and of the President, Judges, Advocates-General and Registrar of the
Court of Justice, OJ 187, 8.8.1967.

(2003/C 137 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2808/02

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 October 2002)

Subject: Common fisheries policy reform (cid:1) 12-mile exclusive zone

Has the Commission considered instigating permanent exclusive use of the 0-12-mile zone for national
fishing vessels?

Indigenous inshore shellfisheries urgently need protection to safeguard them from over-fishing. Can the
Commission explain briefly what measures it is taking in this regard and indicate the timescale to which
they are working?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

The Commission’s intention is to maintain in the future exactly the same conditions relating to access to
the 0-12 mile zones which exist today and have existed for many years. As such, therefore, there is no
specific reference to exclusive use of this zone for national fishing vessels.

However, existing conditions leave some parts of the 12-mile zone of some Member States to be fished
only by vessels of those Member States. Where it has been agreed that vessels of other Member States have
access, the species which might be exploited are specified.

If inshore shellfisheries need protection, there are opportunities for doing so currently under Article 46 of
Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through
juveniles of marine organisms (1) where possibilities for
technical measures for
autonomous action by Member States are laid down. The Commission intends that Regulation (EC)
No 850/98 will be replaced with a new Regulation on the same topic but within the new Regulation, the
Commission intends to maintain the conditions giving autonomy to Member States to enact additional
technical measures for local stocks.

the protection of

(1) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.