WRITTEN QUESTION E-1359/03 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Gran Sol fleet provisional rest period.
Date: 2003-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Spain, fishing fleet, fishing industry, fishing season

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/107

Article 1 of the Regulation states:

Paragraph 1:

is hereby established, the purpose of which shall be to assist in
A system known as ‘Eurodac’
determining which Member State is to be responsible pursuant
to the Dublin Convention for
examining an application for asylum lodged in a Member State, and otherwise to facilitate the
application of the Dublin Convention.

Paragraph 3:

Without prejudice to the use of data intended for Eurodac by the Member State of origin in databases
set up under the latter’s national law, fingerprint data and other personal data may be processed in
Eurodac only for the purposes set out in Article 15(1) of the Dublin Convention.

The authorised objectives listed exhaustively in Article 15(1) of the Dublin Convention are as follows:

(cid:1) determining the Member State which is responsible for examining the application for asylum,
(cid:1) examining the application for asylum,
(cid:1) implementing any obligation arising under this Convention.

These objectives are incorporated unamended in Article 21(1) of Council Regulation No (EC) 343/2003 of
18 February 2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible
for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national (3),
which replaces the Dublin Convention.

Consequently, even if a police force were the authority within a given Member State responsible for
performing one of the above tasks, the data in its possession could not be processed in Eurodac for
purposes of police investigation.

The legislation currently in force would have to be amended to allow Eurodac to be used for other
purposes while maintaining the necessary balance between public security requirements and the protection
of freedoms.

(1) OJ L 316, 15.12.2000.
(2) OJ C 254, 19.8.1997.
(3) OJ L 50, 25.2.2003.

(2004/C 33 E/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1359/03

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

(10 April 2003)

Subject: Gran Sol fleet provisional rest period

The Galician fleet fishing in the Gran Sol grounds has planned a biological rest period from 1 July
onwards. In order that this biological rest period can go ahead with all the necessary guarantees in place
for the fleet involved, the relevant authorisation must be published in good time in the Official Journal of
the European Union (OJ).

Can the Commission give details of the steps it intends to take or has already taken to ensure that the fleet
involved can carry out this biological rest period and the relevant authorisation can be published in the OJ
in good time?

C 33 E/108

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that it received a communication from the Spanish
authorities on this matter on 20 March 2003.

The proposed measure, including the reasons behind its adoption, must be assessed, in particular from a
biological point of view.

The Commission is currently examining whether the initiative is compatible with the relevant provisions of
the Community legislation applicable in this area (1) (Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999, as amended
by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002).

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 of 20 December 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 laying
down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector,
OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 33 E/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1366/03

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 April 2003)

Subject: EU citizens’ awareness in regard to more economic use of energy

Modern societies are to a great extent based on large-scale consumption of energy. However, all uses of
energy create environmental problems. If energy consumption is to be reduced in the long term, wide-
ranging measures must be taken by consumers and producers alike. However, change requires knowledge
and understanding. One of the conclusions drawn from a recent survey of 16 000 EU citizens carried out
by the Directorate-General for Research is that a large section of those citizens has limited understanding
of how energy is consumed in society or of how they themselves can help to reduce energy use in their
own households.

In the Commission’s view, what measures should be taken to heighten the awareness of EU citizens to
achieve more economic use of energy?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

In order to achieve the necessary objectives as described in the Green Paper on energy supply, on the
demand side the Commission implements several instruments like legislation, promotion and education to
help raise awareness of European citizens in energy use. The Commission is of the opinion that a mix of
these approaches is important.

Nevertheless the Commission notes with pleasure that according to the recent Eurobarometer survey on
energy there is a high awareness among European citizens that energy is very important in our society and
that its use affects the environment. A positive attitude towards renewable energy and energy savings is
clearly there.

Measures that were and are being taken to heighten the energy awareness of European citizens include the
following initiatives:

(cid:1) Examples of awareness creation through information and promotion:

(cid:1) The Energy Framework Programme, in particular in its Altener and Save projects, included the
promotion of efficient production and consumption of energy, particularly measures aimed at the
educational sector and the wider public, as well as the support for the development of a network
of regional and local energy agencies. These actions will continue with the new Intelligent Energy
programme (2003-2006).