WRITTEN QUESTION E-2982/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Measures to reduce fisheries accidents.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: fishing vessel, maritime safety, maritime transport, occupational health, occupational safety, transport accident

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/143

(2003/C 110 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2982/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Measures to reduce fisheries accidents

Paragraph 2 of the EP’s resolution of 5 April 2001 on Fisheries: safety and causes of accidents (1) ‘calls on
the Commission to put forward proposals for directives with a view to drawing up a Community
legislative framework to regulate and guarantee safety conditions for vessels which are excluded from
Directives 93/103/EC and 97/70/EC’.

Does the Commission intend to put forward any proposals in this connection?

How does the Commission believe progress can be made on the safety of shallow-draught fishing boats?

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

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2002)

The Commission plans to evaluate the practical
implementation of 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) (1) in
the Member States. It will draw up a report based on the findings of this evaluation and of the national
reports submitted by the relevant authorities in the Member States, as provided for in Article 13 (4) of this
Directive. This report will be submitted to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social
Committee and the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work.

Any proposal to broaden the scope of Directive 93/103/EC could be examined when the Commission
drafts the above report on practical implementation.

With regard to Council Directive 97/70/EC of 11 December 1997 setting up a harmonised safety regime
for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over (2), its scope is, as stated in the title, limited to vessels of
24 metres or more.

As part of the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP), the Commission is proposing to continue
cofinancing for investment in safety on board vessels of any size, provided this investment does not lead to
an increase in the level of fishing.

In order to help improve health and safety conditions for workers on vessels which are shorter in length,
the Union has adopted a comprehensive legislative framework proposed by the Commission.

This includes Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to
encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (3), Council Directive 90/269/EEC of
29 May 1990 on the manual handling of loads where there is a risk of back injury (4), Council Directive
89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the use of work equipment (5), as amended by Council Directive
95/63/EC of 5 December 1995 (6), Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the use of
personal protective equipment (5), and Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum
requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels (7).

(1) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.
(2) OJ L 34, 9.2.1998.
(3) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(4) OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.
(5) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.
(6) OJ L 335, 30.12.1995.
(7) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.