WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/02 by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European shipbuilding sector.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, control of State aid, restriction on competition, sectoral aid, shipbuilding, single market

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/59

Has the Commission taken any steps in this connection?

Does it not believe that improving training and standardising certification for fishing crews would help cut
the number of fisheries accidents?

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

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2002)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that improving the training of personnel on board
fishing vessels helps to reduce the number of accidents at work.

With regard to protection of the health and safety of workers at work, the Commission would like to draw
the Honourable Member’s attention to Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum
safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels (1) and Council Directive
93/103/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for work on
board fishing vessels (thirteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/
391/EEC) (2), which sets out minimum requirements for the training of workers and of any person likely to
command a vessel, the captain or designated workers.

In particular, Articles 9 and 10 of Directive 93/103/EC stipulates the areas which must be covered by
training in health and safety on board fishing vessels; this training must be updated as required by changes
in the activities on board. Moreover, Annex III of Directive 93/103/EC sets out minimum requirements for
training in the use of life-saving and survival equipment.

In addition, Article 5 of Directive 92/29/EEC sets out the necessary measures which each Member State
must take to inform and train workers regarding medical treatment on board vessels. In particular, Annex
V of this Directive contains general guidelines to be followed for the medical training of the captain and
designated workers. This training must be updated periodically, at least every five years (cf. Article 5(3)).

(1) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.
(2) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.

(2003/C 161 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/02

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: European shipbuilding sector

1. What plans does the Commission have to address the problem of the widely varying policies pursued
by various Member States with regard to aid for the shipbuilding sector?

To what extent do the variations in aid policy distort competition in the European shipbuilding

2.
sector?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2002)

1.
The Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 establishing new rules on aid to
shipbuilding (1), hereafter ‘Shipbuilding Regulation’, sets out the conditions under which aid to shipbuilding
may be authorised. The rules are designed with a view to minimising the distortion of competition within
the Community. If a Member State wants to provide aid to shipbuilding, it must first notify such aid to the
Commission and receive the Commission’s approval.

C 161 E/60

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

Since the Shipbuilding Regulation, like other state aid rules, provides for maximum aid limits, it may be
that some Member States decide to provide less aid than that which is allowed or no aid at all. This is
normal and fully in line with Community state aid policy.

2.
If aid has been approved by the Commission based on the Shipbuilding Regulation, and provided
it is the view of the
accordingly,
Commission that the aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common
interest.

including compliance with any conditions set by the Commission,

(1) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998.

(2003/C 161 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3011/02

by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: CAP subsidies to the UK royal family

How much does Queen Elizabeth II receive in CAP subsidies? How much does Prince Charles receive in
CAP subsidies?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2002)

The Honourable Member is requesting information on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies paid to
certain individuals.

Member States are required to send to the Commission certain accounting information every year, whose
content and form is precisely described by Community rules. However, according to Regulation (EC)
No 45/2001 (1), the Commission is obliged to ensure that this information in question is kept confidential
and secure. Therefore, the Commission is not allowed by Community rules to provide the requested
information to the Honourable Member.

is recommended to the Honourable Member to address his request direct

It
concerned, who holds all the necessary information for answering to the Honourable Member.

to the Member State

(1) Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free
movement of such data, OJ L 8, 12.1.2001.

(2003/C 161 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3014/02

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Official Commission delegation to Morocco: situation regarding the EU-Morocco Action Plan

Recent media reports have revealed that an official Commission delegation is visiting Morocco in order to
assess the situation regarding the Action Plan which has been devised by the European Union and the
Moroccan Government for the purpose of dealing with immigration from Africa.

In view of the fact that this issue is of significance in social terms to a number of EU regions (such as the
Canary Islands, on account of their geographical proximity and the fact that they constitute one of the
EU’s external borders), what does the Commission think of the report drawn up by the official delegation?