WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/03 by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Support scheme for producers in the fisheries sector.
Date: 2003-06-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: drafting of EU law, fishing industry, peripheral region, report, sales aid

C 33 E/202

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2003)

In reference to the first question concerning an advertised vacancy for ‘an English mother-tongue
1.
secretary’ the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission’s reply to Written Question E-1733/03
by Mr Leinen (1).

As far as the more general issue raised is concerned, the Commission has finalised its investigations
2.
into a complaint concerning several job offers which had been published by one Member State’s public
authorities. In their reply to the Commission the authorities of the Member State concerned made it clear
that they share the opinion of the Commission that the use of such terms as ‘mother tongue’ or ‘native
speaker’ in job offers violates Community law on free movement of workers. They further informed the
Commission that information and circular letters have been sent to the organisations concerned in order to
avoid that in future such job offers will be published.

The Commission considers that the position of the authorities of the Member State concerned and the
measures taken bring the behaviour of these administrations into line with Community law on free
movement of workers. In April 2003 the complainant was informed accordingly.

The Commission would also like to reiterate its intention to use its legal powers to fight against the use of
a ‘native speaker’ criterion in job advertisements, if necessary.

(1) OJ C 11 E, 15.1.2004, p. 221.

(2004/C 33 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/03

by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Support scheme for producers in the fisheries sector

(17 June 2003)

In 1992, to compensate for the fact that certain outermost regions are islands, a support scheme was
adopted for producers in the fisheries sector, providing for contributions to offset the additional marketing
and transport costs that they were incurring because there were no regional markets near at hand and the
cost of transport from the regions concerned to the mainland was high.

New regulations were adopted in 1994, 1995, and 1998 in order to continue the measures laid down in
the initial regulation. The last of these regulations was intended to remain in force until 31 December
2001. Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1587/98 (1) stipulated that the Commission was to submit a report
on its implementation by 1 June 2001. However, the Commission wished to probe more deeply into the
impact of the measures adopted and the additional costs entailed for the fisheries sector enterprises
because of their remote location and, moreover, to take into account the debate on reform of the CFP. It
thus considered it necessary to put the submission date for the report back to 1 June 2002 and,
consequently, to extend Regulation (EC) No 1587/98 for another year, with the result that the regulation
remained in force until 31 December 2002. The Commission proposal to that effect (for which a dual
legal basis was invoked, namely Articles 37 and 299(2) of the Treaty) was accepted by the Council and
endorsed by Parliament.

1. When will the report on compensation for the additional costs in the fisheries sector be adopted?

2.
How does the Commission view the possibility of adopting a permanent scheme, to replace the
extension of Regulation (EC) No 1587/98, bearing in mind that the remoteness of the outermost regions is
a factor that cannot be altered?

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1998, p. 1.

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/203

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member of the following:

(cid:1) the report on application of the scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the
marketing of certain fishery products in the outermost regions is due to be adopted in the third
quarter of 2003;

(cid:1) adoption of the report goes hand in hand with the draft proposal for a Council Regulation introducing
a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred, which the Commission is in the course of
adopting, providing for application backdated to 1 January 2003 and unlimited in time;

(cid:1) as regards the duration of the scheme, the Commission has always proposed that there should be no
limit in time, subject to a report on implementation of the scheme being submitted every four years.
However, the Council has introduced a time limit on application of the scheme each time negotiations
have been held.

(2004/C 33 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2026/03

by José Pomés Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Security as regards the transport of arms and explosives

(12 June 2003)

On 30 May this year 370 guns were stolen in France whilst being transported from Germany to Spain
without any kind of special safeguards. There is apparently no national or Community law laying down
any minimum security standards or police protection for the transport of this kind of equipment, which
can easily fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals.

On the other hand, in various countries, including France, there is legislation regulating and restricting the
transport of firearms carried by foreign police officers, limiting their right to carry weapons to within only
10 kilometres of the border when pursuing criminals caught in the act and on the rest of French territory
only in order to ensure the safety of VIPs, for which there is a complicated official procedure via the
accredited embassies.

In view of the absurd situation whereby there are rules governing the transport of weapons by officers of
the law, but not the transport of arms for commercial purposes, does the Commission consider that
security legislation should be drawn up to prevent the stealing of arms and explosives, such as has
happened in recent years in the European Union, especially in France, in order to guarantee the safety of
the general public and more successfully combat terrorism, crime and illegal arms trafficking?

Is it considering submitting a proposal on the subject?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2003)

The Commission would first recall that Directive 91/477/EEC of the Council, of 18 June 1991 (1), relative
in its
to the control of acquisition and detention of certain types of weapons for civilian use, sets,
article 11, precise formalities in case of transfers of these weapons, regarding information that must be
communicated to Member States authorities as well as any necessary authorisations.

In relation to security of the commercial transport of firearms and explosives, this is only in part regulated
by Community legislation.