WRITTEN QUESTION E-0145/03 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU-Iceland international fisheries agreement and development cooperation.
Date: 2003-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iceland, common fisheries policy, financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing industry, fishing licence

C 242 E/100

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0132/03 and E-0252/03
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2003)

The Commission is aware that
from
15 December 2002. The Commission regrets the reduction in international services which may be decided
upon by the railway undertakings concerned, although it recognises that they are entitled to seek to
optimise their organisation, including by not losing money on this kind of service, as required by Article 5
of Directive 91/441 (1).

the Brussels-Milan train service was discontinued with effect

According to the information supplied to the Commission, this service was not cost-effective for the five
undertakings concerned.

The Commission would nevertheless like to point out that, if the main reason for discontinuing the service
is financial, Regulation 1191/69 (2) allows the competent national authorities of the Member States to
conclude a public service contract with a railway undertaking to operate train services on routes which
would not be cost-effective without financial support from the public authorities.

The Commission intends to present a proposal for a regulation in 2003 on the rights and obligations of
passengers in international rail
traffic which would, moreover, contain provisions concerning the
consultation of passengers by railway undertakings in cases of major changes to the services offered. The
Commission will also present a proposal for a directive to enable railway undertakings to become more
competitive by facilitating access to the market in international passenger services. The many questions
raised following the discontinuation of
that many other
international services will be discontinued will be taken into account when these legal instruments are
drawn up, as discontinuing services will certainly not contribute to achieving one of the objectives of the
common transport policy, which is to maintain and even increase the modal share of rail in transport as a
whole.

this train service and the announcement

(1) Council Directive 91/440/EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community’s railways (cid:1) OJ L 237,

24.8.1991.

(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of 26 June 1969 on action by Member States concerning the obligation
inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway (cid:1) OJ L 156, 28.6.1969.

(2003/C 242 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0145/03

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: EU-Iceland international fisheries agreement and development cooperation

In the context of the current EU-Iceland international fisheries agreement, can the Commission indicate:

1. How much the EU has earmarked for the development of the fisheries sector in Iceland?

2. How much the EU pays by way of a financial contribution in exchange for fishing rights for the

Community fleet?

3. How much Community shipowners have to pay in fees for fishing licences and fishing rights?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Honourable Member has raised three questions regarding economical transactions and fees for licences
within the Community-Iceland Agreement. The Agreement contains no financial transactions between the
Community and Iceland and no provisions on fees for fishing licences.