WRITTEN QUESTION P-0701/03 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Implementation of the FIFG in Galicia.
Date: 2003-03-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: FIFG, Galicia, Structural Funds, fisheries policy, fishing fleet, oil pollution, operational programme, temporary layoff

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/109

Community process or policy instruments exist. It is not intended to replace existing instruments nor to
change the responsibilities of policy makers at the European and national level. The approach aims at
enhancing policy co-operation between Member States. A general basis for adapting measures designed to
encourage co-operation between Member States is given in Article 137 of the Nice Treaty which states that
the Community shall support and complement activities of Member States in certain fields, including the
modernisation of social protection systems.

In the area of pensions, the open method of co-ordination was defined in the Joint report by the Social
Protection Committee and the Economic Policy Committee to the Laeken European Council in December
2001. This report states that the aim of the open method of co-ordination is ‘to help Member States to
develop their own national strategies’. Further,
‘it does not change the respective
responsibilities of policy makers at the European and national level’ and that ‘it takes its place alongside
a range of well-functioning EU processes which, as part of their wider remit, deal with aspects of pension
policies’. The report lists these other processes, which include the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and
the Stability and Growth Pact. Regarding the modalities of the open method of co-ordination in the field of
pensions, it involves agreeing broad common objectives for pension systems (which were defined as the
adequacy,
financial sustainability and the modernisation of pension systems), reporting on national
strategies according to these objectives, periodic monitoring of the progress towards these objectives, and
agreeing on indicators. There is no possibility to give recommendations to Member States within this
process.

it states that

Unlike the open method of co-ordination, the economic policy co-ordination is Treaty-based. It is based on
Article 99 of the EC Treaty. Stability/convergence programmes are based on the Stability and Growth Pact
which is embedded in the secondary legislation based on Article 99(4) and 104(5) of the EC Treaty. Within
the wider remits of the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and the Stability and Growth Pact, these
instruments also deal with pension policies, notably from the points of view of their implications for the
long-term sustainability of public finances and the overall performance of Community economies. In
particular,
reviewing the long-term
sustainability of public finances,
including the expected strains caused by the demographic challenges
ahead, in the context of the Stability/Convergence Programmes and within the framework of the Broad
Economic Policy Guidelines. Thus, the budgetary impacts of ageing are examined in the context of the
Stability and Growth Pact and the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines can give recommendations to
Member States on reforming pension systems with the aim of making them sustainable in the long run
and contributing to the overall sustainability of public finances.

the Stockholm Council conclusions

(March 2001) called for

(2004/C 11 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0701/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(3 March 2003)

Subject: Implementation of the FIFG in Galicia

According to reports in the press (1), the Regional Government of Galicia has presented plans in Brussels
for a biological rest period for vessels in the Great Sole fishing grounds, and has requested authorisation to
use FIFG funds to pay for this. It seems that the rest period will run for 45 days, 30 of which will have to
be taken consecutively in the period from July to October. Ship owners will be able to choose when the
15 remaining days are taken.

This rest period will affect not only Galicia but also fleets from the Basque Country, Cantabria and
Asturias, since the autonomous governments of these regions will pay allowances to the companies and
crews from FIFG funds for the 45 rest days, and the social security for that period. The Regional
Government of Galicia will only pay allowances to ship owners and fishermen for the 30 days, with the
fishing companies having to meet the social security costs for the 45-day rest period and pay allowances to
the crews for the remaining 15 days.

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Could the Commission explain why the fishing industry in Galicia is receiving differential treatment when
there is no reason for this? Does Galicia have less available FIFG funding than the other regions mentioned
above, meaning that its fleet does not receive equal funding?

How much of the FIFG funding for Galicia, the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias for the financial
year 2003 has already been implemented in the first two months of 2003, and what is the remaining
balance for each autonomous community?

What has been the incidence of the Prestige disaster on the FIFG funds allocated to Galicia for the financial
year 2003? Could the Commission provide precise figures in this respect? How will the measures needed
to ensure economic and social cohesion between the fishing sector in Galicia and the rest of the
Community be financed?

Is there still FIFG funding available in Galicia for renewing the fleet, restructuring the fishing industry,
implementing social measures, compensating for other biological rest periods, developing aquaculture,
protecting coastal areas, carrying out plans for the construction of port facilities and the processing,
marketing and promotion of fisheries products, helping producer organisations to market their products
and making financial contributions to the cost of unemployment and early retirement pensions for
fishermen?

(1)

‘Faro de Vigo’, 26 February 2003.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the Spanish authorities recently notified the
Commission of a state aid scheme to grant allowances to fishermen and shipowners for the temporary
cessation of
fishing activities in the Great Sole. The Commission is currently examining this draft
legislation.

Within the FIFG operational programme for the Spanish Objective 1 regions, which is a multiregional
programme, Galicia has by far the largest FIFG contribution of the Spanish regions.

The Commission will not receive details of implementation of the 2003 annual instalment until 2004, in
accordance with Article 37 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on
the Structural Funds (1).

According to the information available to the Commission, the Prestige disaster has not led to a reduction
of the FIFG allocation for Galicia. In addition, on 20 December 2002 the Council adopted 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 (2), which will provide access to additional, non-
regionalised, FIFG funding.

The other measures referred to by the Honourable Member are part of
the integrated operational
programmes for regional development and the multiregional programmes under the Community support
framework for Objective 1 of the Structural Funds in Spain, including the FIFG.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.