WRITTEN QUESTION E-0463/03 by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission. Fisheries agreement between Spain and Morocco.
Date: 2003-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Morocco, Spain, aid for restructuring, common fisheries policy, fishing agreement, fishing fleet

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/191

Moreover, the Commission is preparing proposals to supplement the Euro IV emission standards with new
technical tests (as required in Directive 1999/96/EC) and several projects are looking at the differences
between actual in-use emissions and the type-approval limits. As part of the supplement to the Euro IV
emission standards, a test for in-use conformity of a heavy-duty vehicle emission control system is being
assessed and it is most likely that a procedure will be developed allowing authorities to fit a heavy-duty
vehicle with a data recording device to measure emissions while a vehicle is actually used on the road.
When used in combination with the type-approval test, this additional on-road test will provide a strong
control of emissions under all possible operating conditions.

However, heavy-duty engines may still be tampered with through the purchase of so-called ‘performance
chips’ or engine calibration programmes. A forthcoming amendment to Directive 88/77/EEC is being
prepared, that should offer improvements against tampering, especially with engine management systems
for new vehicles.

(1) Directive 1999/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate
pollutants from compression ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from
positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles and amending
Council Directive 88/77/EEC (cid:1) OJ L 44, 16.2.2000.

(2) Commission Directive 2001/27/EC of 10 April 2001 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 88/77/EEC
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of
gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of
gaseous pollutants from positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in
vehicles (cid:1) OJ L 107, 18.4.2001.

(2003/C 192 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0463/03

by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Fisheries agreement between Spain and Morocco

(19 February 2003)

In 2002 Parliament granted a total of EUR 197 million to be used for structural modernisation of the
Spanish and Portuguese fishing fleets and to reduce the number of vessels. The reason was that no fisheries
agreement was concluded between the Union and Morocco.

Only about a month ago reports emerged (for instance as published in the Financial Times on 13 January
2003) that Spanish fishermen had been given permission to fish in Moroccan waters.

That being the case, does the Commission still intend to use appropriations for structural adjustment of
the fishing fleet, and, if so, how can such action be justified in the present circumstances?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2003)

The authorisation from Morocco to give access to a limited number of Spanish vessels to fish in Moroccan
waters, was granted for a three month period starting 14 December 2002.

This was a solidarity gesture from Morocco following the Prestige disaster in order to help out Spain and
in particular the Galician region and fleet, during a period of exceptional hardship and is, as mentioned,
both very limited in time and for a limited number of vessels. In this sense, the present circumstances are
of an exceptional nature.

Thus, the structural adjustment of the fishing fleet continues as scheduled and remains a priority of the
fisheries policy. The appropriations for the structural adjustment of the fishing fleet remain fully justified.