WRITTEN QUESTION E-2994/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Measures to reduce fisheries accidents.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, continuing education, fishing vessel, maritime safety, maritime transport, occupational health, occupational safety, transport accident, vocational training

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/147

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2002)

With regard to the recommendation in paragraph 18 of the resolution adopted by Parliament on 5 April
2001 urging ‘the Commission to require transparency as regards the information provided by Member
States on ships and their operation so that it can be incorporated into the real-time information system
Equasis now being set up by the Commission’, it should be remembered that the Equasis information
system relates only to commercial vessels and does not contain any information on their operation.

The Commission has not taken any new initiatives in this connection.

(2003/C 110 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2994/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Measures to reduce fisheries accidents

Paragraph 20 of the EP’s resolution of 5 April 2001 on Fisheries: safety and causes of accidents (1) ‘calls on
the Commission to co-finance, together with the Member States and the fishing industry, the necessary
vocational and continuing training campaigns’.

Has the Commission taken any steps in this connection?

What vocational and continuing training campaigns has the Commission co-financed since that date?

(1) OJ C 21 E, 24.1.2002, p. 359.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

In point 20 of the resolution to which the Honourable Member refers Parliament calls on the Commission
to co-finance together with the Member States and the fishing industry the necessary vocational and
continuing training campaigns.

regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries

Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down detailed rules and
(implementing
arrangements
Regulation for the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) includes training of fishermen in its scope:
see the last indent of paragraph 4 in Article 11 (small-scale coastal fishing), point (k) in paragraph 3 of
Article 15 (operations by members of the trade) and paragraph 1 of Article 17 (innovative measures and
technical assistance). Training measures must be presented by Member States in the form of projects to be
part-financed from the FIFG. There has not yet been any action of this type in the current programming
period (2000-06) but it is still open to Member States to present part-financing applications for such
training.

sector (1)

Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 of 12 July 1999 on the European Social Fund (2)
includes as an aim promoting and improving training, education and counselling in the lifelong learning
policy framework.

The types of activity implementing the policy priorities listed in the Regulation can include awareness-
raising about and vocational training on safety and health in the work place. Action of this type has long
been financed from the ESF in all economic sectors.

C 110 E/148

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

Under the principles of subsidiarity and decentralisation of Structural Fund management, the selection and
management of actual projects falls to the Member State. The Commission has no detailed information on
the amounts allocated by sector or training field. But it may be noted by way of example that the Spanish
Operational Programmes Entrepreneurial initiative and continuing training for 2000-06 include as specific
measures Awareness-raising and Continuing training in safety and health at sea.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.
(2) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.

(2003/C 110 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Measures to reduce fisheries accidents

Paragraph 36 of the EP’s resolution of 5 April 2001 on Fisheries: safety and causes of accidents (1) ‘calls for
greater coordination between maritime communications centres and services, with the strengthening and
modernising of their existing technical and human resources and between European radio-medical centres
in order to facilitate the permanent exchange of information in real time regarding medical treatment, as
provided for by Directive 92/29/EEC, so as to improve techniques for radio diagnosis and telemedicine as
well as sea rescue. This should be carried out through specific pilot plans’.

What steps has the Commission taken in this respect?

(1) OJ C 21 E, 24.1.2002, p. 359.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2002)

Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum safety and health requirements for
improved medical treatment on board vessels (1) provides,
in Article 6, that in order to ensure better
emergency treatment for workers on board vessels each Member State shall take the measures necessary to
ensure that one or more centres are designated to provide workers with free medical advice by radio and
that some of the doctors providing their services for the radio consultation centres have been trained in
the special conditions prevailing on board ship.

The maritime telemedicine services are now undergoing a strong development phase due to new means of
communication and an increasing demand for easy access to care, regardless of position. However,
challenges remain, such as legal issues, technology integration, culture on-board, and organisation and
coordination on land.

The Commission is ready to analyse possible ways of
improving coordination between the radio
consultation centres and the emergency services of each Member State, taking into account the new types
of equipment supplied by telemedicine and the conditions imposed by the use of different Community
languages.

(1) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.