WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725/03 by Reimer Böge (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding the VMS vessel monitoring system for fishing boats.
Date: 2003-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, fishing controls, fishing industry, fishing vessel, remote sensing, vehicle parts

C 33 E/160

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

(2004/C 33 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725/03

by Reimer Böge (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Funding the VMS vessel monitoring system for fishing boats

Under Article 22 of Regulation (EC) 2371/2002 (1) all fishing vessels over 18 metres in length must be
equipped with a satellite-transceiver ‘blue box’ by 1 January 2004, and those over 15 metres in length by
1 January 2005.

In the case of fishing vessels over 24 metres long, for which VMS has been mandatory since July 1998,
100 % of the cost of acquiring the equipment was refunded on request by the European Union. In the case
of cutters under 24 metres in length, however, all that will be paid, under the FIFG, is a subsidy equivalent
to 25 % of the cost of acquisition. As well as the cost of purchase, there are running costs of up to
EUR 500 per annum, representing an additional burden for fishermen.

Leaving aside the fact that this additional expenditure is hard to justify in the case of off-shore and one-day
fisheries, can the Commission say whether it is prepared to eliminate the clear discrimination against
cutters under 24 metres in length as regards the purchase of the ‘blue box’, for example by amending the
regulation, by supporting relevant initiatives through the budget or through an EU contribution to the
Member States’ monitoring costs, which would also enable a refund to be paid for satellite monitoring
equipment installed in 2003 or as of 2004?

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2003)

The Commission shares the concern that fishermen shall be treated equally during the extension of Vessel
Monitoring System (VMS) to smaller vessels.

In this respect, the assumption that the equipment for bigger vessels was funded at 100 % and that the
equipment for smaller vessels can only be funded at 25 % does not correctly reflect the actual situation. In
fact, for vessels already subject to VMS, a Community financial contribution has been paid proportionally
to the expenditure incurred for the acquisition of the equipment up to a maximum amount. The
maximum contribution in 1999 and 2000 was EUR 3 400.

For the vessels smaller than 24 metres overall, the Commission will grant aid under similar conditions as it
did in the past for the bigger vessels, within the budgetary constraints.

(2004/C 33 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1729/03

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Subject: Motor insurance in Lithuania

Would the Commission please tell me whether arrangements are in place for Lithuania to comply with EU
standards on motor insurance, especially the First Directive on Motor Insurance, which says that every
insurance policy issued in the EU must offer the minimum insurance cover required by law in any other
EU country?