WRITTEN QUESTION E-2984/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Measures to reduce fisheries accidents.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: arrangement of working time, crew, fishing vessel, maritime safety, maritime transport, working time

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/141

(2003/C 137 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2981/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Measures to reduce fisheries accidents

Paragraph 1 of the EP’s resolution of 5 April 2001 on Fisheries: safety and causes of accidents (1) ‘urges
those Member States which have not yet done so to ratify the Torremolinos Protocol and the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel
(STCW-F), both drawn up by the International Maritime Organisation, and the ILO and FAO conventions
on fishing safety and working conditions, so that their entry into force can help to increase safety in the
fishing industry throughout the world’.

Has any Member State subsequently ratified the Protocol and Convention?

Which Member States have not yet ratified them?

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

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2002)

The 1993 Torremolinos Protocol has so far been ratified by six Member States (Denmark, Spain, Ireland,
Italy, Netherlands, Sweden) and the STCW-F Convention by Denmark alone.

According to our information the ILO Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970 (C134) has so
Italy, Finland,
far been ratified by eight Member States (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France,
Sweden).

The Commission does not know of any FAO Conventions on fishing safety.

(2003/C 137 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2984/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Measures to reduce fisheries accidents

Paragraph 3 of the EP’s resolution of 5 April 2001 on Fisheries: safety and causes of accidents (1) ‘urges the
Council to promote greater coverage of fishermen in Council Directive 93/104/EC on certain aspects of
the organisation of working time, amended by Directive 2000/34/EC of the European Parliament and the
Council, so as to improve their protection’.

Has the Commission taken any steps in this connection?

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

C 137 E/142

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2002)

Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organization of
working time (1) applies to all sectors of activity, both public and private, with the exception of air, rail,
road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport, sea fishing, other work at sea and the activities of doctors in
training (‘excluded sectors’).

These ‘excluded sectors’ will in future be covered by Directive 2000/34/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 22 June 2000 (2), which will enter into force on 1 August 2003 (1 August 2004 for
doctors in training).

For workers on board sea-going fishing vessels, Directive 2000/34/EC provides that the maximum number
of hours of work or the minimum number of hours of rest shall be specified by law, regulations,
administrative provisions or by collective agreements or agreements between the two sides of the industry
within the limits laid down by the Directive: the number of hours of work shall not exceed 14 hours in
any 24-hour period and 72 hours in any seven-day period while minimum hours of rest shall not be less
than 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period.

Article 3 of the Directive states that, not later than 1 August 2009, the Commission shall, after consulting
the Member States and management and labour at European level, review the operation of the provisions
for workers on board sea-going fishing vessels, and, in particular examine whether these provisions remain
appropriate, particularly as far as health and safety are concerned, with a view to proposing any
amendments felt to be necessary.

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.
(2) OJ L 195, 1.8.2000.

(2003/C 137 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2985/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Measures to reduce fisheries accidents

Paragraph 4 of the EP’s resolution of 5 April 2001 on Fisheries: safety and causes of accidents (1) ‘calls for a
gradual ban on fishing to be applied to vessels older than 20 years, except for those that have passed
annual safety tests’.

Paragraph 6 ‘calls on the Commission to continue co-financing the replacement of fishing vessels older
than 20 years that do not meet minimum standards with regard to safety and the health of workers on
board’.

The average age of fishing boats is very high, and in some countries over 20 years; as they get older,
fishing boats are increasingly prone to accidents.

What steps has the Commission taken since the adoption of this resolution to modernise and renew the
fleet, reducing the average age of fishing boats, and increasing the number of inspections of older fishing
boats?

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

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2002)

Concerning point 6 of the Parliament Resolution, the Commission recognises the need for a renewal of the
fleet, but thinks this objective has to be compatible with that of reducing excess of capacity and adjusting
the size of the fleet to the available resources. This is why, in the framework of the Common Fisheries