WRITTEN QUESTION P-2375/03 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Eider ducks threatened by the cockle-fishing industry.
Date: 2003-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, application of EU law, bird, environmental impact, environmental law, fishery management, fishing industry, mollusc, protection of animal life

C 33 E/256

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

(2004/C 33 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2344/03

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 July 2003)

Subject: Interreg bureaucracy

The rules governing Interreg subsidies in the Netherlands include passages which make administration
unnecessarily difficult. For example, in order to be eligible for a subsidy it is necessary actually to show
proof of payment of all invoices and wage/salary payments. This discourages organisations from applying
for subsidies, so that inadequate use is made of the funds potentially available.

In the Netherlands,
the procedure for applying for an Interreg BMG (Benelux-Middengebied/Central
Benelux Region) subsidy is often seen as enormously cumbersome: merely producing a thorough project
In addition, the administration is of
plan with defined end products already costs a huge amount.
considerable complexity: it is necessary to produce evidence of deployment of manpower, invoices, copies
of pay slips and now, as mentioned above, also proof of payment.

This means in practical terms that each month a partner has to check which employees on the pay roll
have contributed to the project and must print out a list of them, after which he must submit proof of
payment/a copy of
this information is
the bank statement providing the requisite overview. All
computerised and stored on payment diskettes, so that it is relatively easy to retrieve from the system,
but it is difficult to print out because the relevant lists are enormously long. In a word, while partners’
administrative work and book-keeping are computerised, Europe is still insisting on manually produced
evidence/copies.

Moreover, I have found that, as a result of the various national approaches and interpretations, project
concepts which would be very suitable are often refused Interreg funding and an unnecessary amount of
time is wasted because of inadequate coordination.

Is the Commission aware of the bureaucratic complexities involved in applying for Interreg subsidies,

1.
an example of which appears above?

Do the Interreg subsidy rules in other Member States likewise include such provisions, which

2.
promote bureaucracy? If so, what?

3. Will the Commission take measures to put an end to unnecessary bureaucratic procedures involved
in the granting of Interreg subsidies? If not, why not? If so, what will it do?

4. Will the Commission investigate the scope for setting up one competent authority per Euregion for
the central coordination of Interreg project applications, processing and finalisation?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2004/C 33 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2375/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Eider ducks threatened by the cockle-fishing industry

(16 July 2003)

According to a report published in the 5 July 2003 edition of the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, it
has been proved that commercial industrial fishing for shellfish in the Wadden Sea has an adverse effect on
shellfish-eating birds. A team of biologists noted a significant fall (cid:1) of at least 50 % (cid:1) in the number of
eider ducks (Somateria Mollissima).

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The Wadden Sea Association has found that industrial fishing for cockles destroys the entire ecosystem
because it ploughs up the seabed.

The Netherlands Wadden and Bird Protection Association is demanding an end to cockle-fishing in the
Wadden Sea in order to prevent the mass destruction of eider ducks. In the winter of 1999/2000, 21 000
dead birds were recorded. Recent research has shown a direct connection between the shortage of shellfish
and the deaths of eider ducks. The theory that parasites might be the cause of death has been ruled out.

Pursuant to Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC (1), Member States must take appropriate steps to avoid, in
the special areas of conservation, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as
disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be
significant in relation to the objectives of the Directive.

That provision applies to existing activities in a special area of conservation which might adversely affect
the conservation of wild birds. Implementation of that provision may entail the adaptation or cessation of
such activities.

Does the European Commission share my view that this new information must result in measures being
taken to protect bird species covered by the Wild Birds Directive?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(29 August 2003)

In 2001, the Commission opened two cases, one relating to a Key Planning Decision regarding i.a. the
industrial fishing for shellfish and military activities in the Wadden Sea (case 2001/2164) and a second one
relating directly to the adverse effects of shellfish harvesting in the Wadden Sea on the populations of wild
birds (case 2001/4491). The Wadden Sea has been designated by the Netherlands as a Special Protection
Area (SPA) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1)
(Birds Directive) and has been put forward as a proposed Site of Community Importance (pSCI) under
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora (2)
(‘Habitats Directive’). The cases concern the possible infringement by the Netherlands of
Article 6(2), 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, which, pursuant to its Article 7, also applies to Special
Protection Areas (SPAs) classified under the Birds Directive.

The assessment of these cases is ongoing. The possible establishment of a clear causal relationship between
importance in this matter. The
the shell fisheries and the recorded deaths of wild birds is of crucial
Commission will include the information provided by the Honourable Member into its assessment in order
to determine whether the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives have been complied with by
the Netherlands.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2004/C 33 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2379/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Small business and public procurement

(18 July 2003)

Is the Commission satisfied that small businesses have adequate access to public procurement contracts
within the EU? What measures does the Commission intend to improve the situation? Will it specifically
consider reducing the threshold on the contract size that must be notified and simplifying the notification
procedures?