WRITTEN QUESTION E-3592/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Classification of Galicia as a fisheries-dependent area.
Date: 2002-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: FIFG, Galicia, accidental pollution, common fisheries policy, eligible region, fishing industry, indemnification, region dependent on fishing, regional economy

C 137 E/230

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

The suspension of employment contracts, in particular for economic reasons, is not specifically covered by
Community legislation. Nevertheless, decisions such as those referred to by the Honourable Member must
be preceded by the effective informing and consulting of workers’ representatives in accordance with
Directive 2002/14/EC (2). However, Portugal, like all other Member States, is not obliged to incorporate
this Directive into national law until 23 March 2005.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general

framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community, OJ L 80, 23.3.2002.

(2003/C 137 E/260)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3592/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 December 2002)

Subject: Classification of Galicia as a fisheries-dependent area

Since recent events have once more highlighted the major importance to Galicia of its maritime and
fisheries resources, will the Commission now take the necessary action to ensure that Galicia is classified as
a fisheries-dependent area, and that this designation under the common fisheries policy has the requisite
consequences?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2003)

As indicated in the Commission’s joint answer to written questions E-2097/02 and E-2096/02 (1), the
concept of fisheries dependence appears in article 4.8. of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (2) which
defines the general objectives and tasks of the Community Structural Funds and the Financial Instrument
for Fisheries Guidance (‘FIFG’) as an eligibility criterion for Objective 2 regions. This concept was
introduced in this regulation after Spain and Portugal had become Member States and thus taken into
account when these two Member States and the Commission drew up the list of areas eligible under
Objective 2, in conformity to article 4.3 and 4.4 of Council regulation (EC) No 1260/1999.

With respect to the tanker ‘Prestige’ which shipwrecked off the coast of Galicia in November 2002, the
Commission has closely followed this catastrophy and its impact on the fishing fleet of Galicia and for the
whole fishery sector.

To help alleviate the consequences of this disaster, the Commission proposed to the Council certain
modifications to the existing legal framework for structural interventions in the fishing sector to support
the fishing fleet and the aquaculture sector in that area in order to provide financial aid.

As a result of this proposal, the Council adopted on 20 December 2002 Regulation (EC) No 2372/2002
instituting specific measures to compensate the Spanish fisheries, shellfish industry and aquaculture
affected by the oil spills from the Prestige (3).

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 182.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(3) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.