WRITTEN QUESTION P-2157/03 by Wilhelm Piecyk (PSE) to the Commission. Satellite monitoring of fishing vessels under 24 metres in length.
Date: 2003-06-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common fisheries policy, derogation from EU law, fishing area, fishing controls, fishing regulations, fishing vessel, remote sensing, satellite

C 51 E/212

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

they should be regulated at
If there are conservation problems appearing in the area in question,
Community level according to the ordinary procedures which are applied within the Common Fisheries
Policy. The Commission is always prepared to examine such claims and to take the necessary action.

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

ICES: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

(2004/C 51 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2156/03

by Heinz Kindermann (PSE) to the Commission

(24 June 2003)

Subject: Satellite monitoring of fishing vessels under 24 metres in length

Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 (1) provides that a system for locating and identifying fishing
vessels (satellite monitoring) must also be installed on board vessels exceeding 18 metres in length as from
1 January 2004 and on vessels exceeding 15 metres in length as from 1 January 2005. Up to now, this
requirement has been restricted to fishing vessels exceeding 24 metres in length.

The previous Regulation provided derogations from this obligation for fishing vessels which either
returned to harbour within 24 hours or fished exclusively within the 12-mile zone. This derogation has
been abolished in the new Regulation.

Is the Commission prepared, within the framework of Article 22(3),

1.
derogation for fishing vessels under 24 metres?

to reinstate the current

2.

If so, by what date can such a decision be expected?

3.
If not, does the Commission not take the view that, in the case of small fishing vessels operating
exclusively within the 12-mile zone or returning to harbour within 24 hours, fulfilling these obligations
would create a ‘disproportionate burden (…) compared to the economic importance of the activity’?

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

(2004/C 51 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2157/03

by Wilhelm Piecyk (PSE) to the Commission

(24 June 2003)

Subject: Satellite monitoring of fishing vessels under 24 metres in length

Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 (1) provides that a system for locating and identifying fishing
vessels (satellite monitoring) must also be installed on board vessels exceeding 18 metres in length as from
1 January 2004 and on vessels exceeding 15 metres in length as from 1 January 2005. Up to now, this
requirement has been restricted to fishing vessels exceeding 24 metres in length.

The previous Regulation provided derogations from this obligation for fishing vessels which either
returned to harbour within 24 hours or fished exclusively within the 12-mile zone. This derogation has
been abolished in the new Regulation.

Is the Commission prepared, within the framework of Article 22(3),

1.
derogation for fishing vessels under 24 metres?

to reinstate the current

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Official Journal of the European Union

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2.

If so, by what date can such a decision be expected?

3.
If not, does the Commission not take the view that, in the case of small fishing vessels operating
exclusively within the 12-mile zone or returning to harbour within 24 hours, fulfilling these obligations
would create a ‘disproportionate burden (…) compared to the economic importance of the activity’?

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

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-2156/03 and P-2157/03
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2003)

1.
The extension of VMS to smaller vessels is part of the political agreement on the Reform of the
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reached in December 2002. The aim of the extension is to improve the
control and enforcement of the CFP.

It is believed that VMS is more acceptable to the fishing industry if this type of monitoring applies equally
to all fishing vessels based on the length criteria, which has the advantage of being easily identifiable and
transparent. This in turn constitutes an important factor in favour of the creation of a Community-wide
level playing field for the fishing industry.

This approach is consistent with the Communication from the Commission on the Reform of the
Common Fisheries Policy (the so-called ‘Road Map’). Therein, the Commission announced the removal of
existing exemptions and the extension of VMS to all fishing vessels exceeding 10 metres in length.

Against this background, the Commission does not have the intention to propose exemptions to the
application of VMS for vessels over 15 metres.

2.

In line with the answer given to the first question, no further decision is to be expected.

The Commission believes that VMS is a cost effective monitoring tool that significantly improves

3.
fisheries control and that its extension is justified.

In order to ease the burden for the fishermen, Member States have applied for a community financial
contribution for satellite tracking devices. The Commission will grant aid under similar conditions as it did
in the past for the vessels already subject to VMS, within the budgetary constraints.

(2004/C 51 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2164/03

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 June 2003)

Subject: Cadmium in fertilisers

The cadmium content of fertilisers is limited more strictly in the Nordic countries and Austria than in
to the environment, and the EU should
other EU countries. Cadmium is known to be harmful
consequently endeavour to reduce the cadmium content of fertilisers.

The phosphates imported into the EU, mainly from Morocco, contain a significant amount of cadmium.
Alternatives could be found and, moreover, are available in the EU itself. The substantial phosphate deposit
in Sokli, in northern Finland, is free of cadmium.