WRITTEN QUESTION E-0148/03 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU-Kiribati international fisheries agreement and development cooperation.
Date: 2003-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kiribati, agreement (EU), cooperation policy, financial compensation of an agreement, fisheries policy, fishing agreement, fishing fleet, fishing licence, fishing rights, fishing vessel

C 161 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

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

(2003/C 161 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0148/03

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

(28 January 2003)

Subject: EU-Kiribati international fisheries agreement and development cooperation

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

1. how much the EU has earmarked for the development of the fisheries sector on Kiribati?

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

(7 March 2003)

The Protocol of the Fishing agreement (both in adoption phase (1)) between the Community and the
1.
Republic of Kiribati stipulates in its Article 2 that EUR 100 000 per year of the total financial contribution
will be used for the payment of
the Protocol. The
aforementioned actions aim the institutional development of the fishing sector of Kiribati.

the specific actions established in Article 5 of

2.
The Protocol states in its Article 2 that the financial contribution rises to EUR 546 000 per year
during the first year and a minimum of EUR 416 000 per year during the subsequent two years. Of that
amount, the financial compensation rises to EUR 446 000 during the first year of validity of the Protocol
and to EUR 316 000 for the two last.

As from the second year, the financial contribution could be increased up to EUR 65 000 per year for each
additional tuna seiner license obtained in accordance with the possibilities offered by Kiribati within the
conditions of the Palau Agreement (and corresponding to the additional catch of 1 000 tons of tuna). In
the assumption that seven additional seiner licenses are acquired per year, the total Community financial
contribution could rise to EUR 871 000.

According to Article 2 of
the Republic of Kiribati has exclusive
the government of
competence to determine the use of the financial contribution which is not earmarked for targeted actions.

the Protocol,

The fishing possibilities determined by Article 1 of that Protocol are the ones that follow:

(cid:1) seiners: 6 vessels (for the first year; up to seven additional licenses per year for subsequent years);

(cid:1) long-liners: 12 vessels.

The total financial contribution entitles fishing 8 400 tons of tuna during the first year and 6 400 tons of
tuna per year for subsequent years.

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/185

3.

The fees that vessel owners have to pay are fixed by the Protocol at:

(cid:1) EUR 35 per ton of fish captured in the Kiribati fishing zones. It shall include all local and national

taxes with the exception of port taxes and charges for the provision of services.

(cid:1) Licenses shall be issued on advance payment of an annual sum of EUR 21 000 per tuna seiner and
EUR 4 200 per long-liner and shall not be refundable. Such amounts are equivalent to the fees for
respectively 600 tons and 120 tons of tuna and tuna-like species caught within Kiribati fishing zone.

(1) The Fishing agreement will have a validity of five years from the starting date of enforcement, while that of the

Protocol is of three years.

(2003/C 161 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0149/03

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

(28 January 2003)

Subject: EU-Madagascar international fisheries agreement and development cooperation

In the context of the current EU-Madagascar international
indicate:

fisheries agreement, can the Commission

1. how much the EU has earmarked for the development of the fisheries sector in Madagascar?

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

(7 March 2003)

Article 2 of the Protocol setting for the period 21 May 2001 to 20 May 2004 (1) the fishing
1.
opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Community/Madagascar fisheries agreement
stipulates an amount
(targeted measures) of
for action to develop the Malagasy fisheries sector
EUR 517 000 per year.

2.
The financial contribution in return for the fishing opportunities granted to the Community is
EUR 825 000 per year (2) for a catch of 11 000 tonnes of tuna in Malagasy waters. If the weight of the
Community fleet’s tuna catch is higher the contribution is increased in proportion.

3.
Section 2 of the Annex to the Protocol reads, ‘The fee shall be EUR 25 per tonne caught in waters
under Malagasy jurisdiction. Licences shall be issued on advance payment to the Malagasy Treasury of an
annual sum of EUR 2 500 per tuna seiner, EUR 1 500 per surface longliner of more than 150 GRT and
EUR 1 100 per surface longliner of 150 GRT or less. These amounts correspond to the duty due for annual
catches of 100 tonnes, 60 tonnes and 44 tonnes respectively in Madagascar’s fishing zone.’

(1) OJ L 296, 14.11.2001.
(2) See Article 2 of Protocol.