WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/03 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of joint ventures in the fishing industry.
Date: 2003-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financial instrument, EU financing, European undertaking, eligibility criteria, fishing industry, mixed-ownership company, private sector, support mechanism, third country

C 51 E/174

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

What steps will the Council take under the EU-FYROM association agreement to ensure respect for human
rights and the restoring of decent living conditions for the Roma in Meditlija?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

Regarding the general situation for Romas in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the
Council has in the context of
the Stabilisation and Association Process stressed with the FYROM
authorities the need for dialogue between ethnic communities including a real strategy for integration of
Romas in FYROM.

As far as the situation at the Medzitlija border crossing, the Council through its representatives in FYROM
is in regular contact with the FYROM Government in order to find a solution ensuring full respect of
human rights standards.

The Council would, however, like to underline that the 600-700 Romas at the Medzitlija border crossing
have voluntarily chosen to camp there, declining offers of alternative accommodation in as well as
financial support from UNHCR.

(2004/C 51 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/03

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

Subject: Funding of joint ventures in the fishing industry

(16 June 2003)

Following the reform of the common fisheries policy adopted in December 2002, financial support for
joint ventures under the FIFG will disappear at the end of 2004. According to information from the
Commission, the EU has set aside EUR 2 400 million in support mechanisms for the European private
sector in third countries, to which the fishing industry would have access.

Can the Commission provide information on the origin of these funds intended for the European

1.
private sector in third countries?

Can the Commission say when, through what procedure and on what terms the European fishing

2.
industry will be able to access this support?

3.
Given their value as a development cooperation instrument for third countries, and as a factor
creating jobs and wealth in the Community fishing industry and in EU Objective 1 regions heavily
dependent on fishing, can the Commission say whether it is still considering the possibility of maintaining
aid for joint ventures under the FIFG after 2004, either as part of existing fisheries agreements or outside
them, bearing in mind that 78 % of joint ventures are based in third countries with which the EU has not
concluded such agreements?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2003)

and

the African, Caribbean and

The Community
the ACP-
EC Association Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, to make available to the ACP and
European private sector and commercially-managed public sector an investment fund of EUR 2,2 billion.
Investment funds have likewise been set up in the context of cooperation between the Community and
developing countries in the Mediterranean, Latin America and South and South-East Asia.

agreed,

Pacific

under

States

26.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/175

Since the Cotonou Agreement’s entry into force on 1 April 2003, the ACP-EC fund (cid:1) called an investment
facility (cid:1) has been managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The fund enables financial support to
be provided for investment in the ACP countries in the form of loans, acquisition of capital holdings and
guarantees. It may also finance (cid:1) subject to certain conditions (cid:1) public enterprises, infrastructure and
private projects on special terms.

The facility meets the private sector’s needs. Its funding is therefore not reserved for specific countries or
sectors, but since fisheries is a major production and trade sector in the ACP countries it seems natural
that part of the facility may be used by the private sector operating in that sphere.

The procedures and eligibility conditions for access to the funding are available from the EIB. The EIB may
be involved either directly or indirectly, via a network of
its European and ACP partner financial
institutions.

More particularly as regards access to the funding for European enterprises in the fisheries sector, the
Commission is in the process of implementing (cid:1) in close cooperation with the EIB and the instruments
for supporting private-sector development (cid:1) a policy aimed at raising awareness in the sector and
particularly at promoting investment in the ACP countries.

Aid for setting up joint ventures, as referred to by the Honourable Member, is governed by Regulation (EC)
No 2369/2002 (1). Hence the Commission cannot comment at this stage on what the eligibility criteria will
be after 31 December 2004, the expiry date stipulated in that Regulation.

(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 (cid:1)
OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 51 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1993/03

by Benedetto Della Vedova (NI) to the Commission

(10 June 2003)

Subject: Abuse of dominant position in the distribution of daily newspapers and periodicals

A few weeks ago the Italian publisher Ilisso announced the launch of a commercial initiative entailing the
sale of its books (classics of Sardinian literature) at newsagents, where purchasers of the books would be
entitled to a discount of EUR 0,90 on the purchase of any Italian or foreign newspaper.

This project was challenged by the FIEG (Italian federation of newspaper publishers), which sent a warning
letter to the publisher and distributors claiming: (a) that the link between a book and a daily newspaper
would constitute an ‘alteration of the product’ (in this case the newspaper) and the newspaper publisher
might not want the newspaper to be associated with the book; (b) the initiative would constitute an
infringement of Legislative Decree No 170 of 24 April 2001, which stipulates that the price of daily
newspapers is fixed by the producer and cannot be altered; (c) the initiative would infringe the national
agreement between publishers and sellers of newspapers and periodicals.

Following this warning the press distribution agencies decided to block Ilisso’s initiative.

In view of the fact that the putative ‘alteration of the product’ cannot be confirmed (since there is no link
between the book and a specific newspaper), the price of the newspaper is not actually altered and the
blocking of the initiative by the FIEG and the distributors makes Ilisso unable to carry out this special offer
in relation to either Italian or other European newspapers, does the Commission not consider that the
block constitutes an abuse of a dominant position contrary to Article 82 of the EC Treaty?