WRITTEN QUESTION E-3879/03 by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission. Rules governing eel fishing.
Date: 2003-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, fishing regulations, fishing rights

C 78 E/870

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

It is known that, for the report, the Commission asked the University of Parma to prepare analyses of the
potential impact on the EU regions mainly concerned of the different options set out in the proposal for
the reform of the COM in raw tobacco. Our Greek colleagues have refered to a similar approach made to
the University of Thessaloniki; we are not aware of cases in other producer Member States.

Can the Commission state whether the documents relating to the above-mentioned analyses were ever
actually produced? If so, can it state whether it will itself publish them in good time, in accordance with
the legislative timetable for the proposal for reform of the COM in tobacco now under discussion?

(1) COM(2003) 554, 23 September 2003.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2004)

The Commission has published the different analyses on the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for
tobacco as soon as they were ready for publication and the COGEA report (evaluation report on tobacco
production in the Union) which is specifically mentioned was made public on the Commission’s website as
soon as it was approved by the Commission on the 8 October 2003.

The Annexes to the COGEA report have not been made public on the website, because Annexes to reports
on the internet are normally not published, but they are always available on request.

The Commission has recently requested the University of Parma and the University of Thessalonica to
carry out an assessment of the effects of the proposal from the Commission. The two universities
mentioned have been chosen because it seems that these universities are the only ones in the Union who
have the capacity to make such assessments.

The Commission has, in the drafting process discussed the different aspects of the reform of the CMO for
tobacco with both Member States authorities, and the different parties involved in the tobacco sector,
including representatives from the administrations of the regions concerned.

A copy of the COGEA report including the Annexes is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s secretariat.

(2004/C 78 E/0923)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3879/03

by Olle Schmidt (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Rules governing eel fishing

The migration of eels in Europe has fallen by between 90 and 95 % since the 1950s. Accordingly the
Commission’s proposal (1) on measures to save the eel is of great importance.

Naturally the long-term management of the eel population must come first. However, the burden of saving
the eels must be shared equally among all the areas over which the species is distributed in Europe. It is
not reasonable to have new rules imposing a total ban on eel fishing in Northern Europe while at the same
Southern Europe continues to fish for elvers on a large scale for consumption or breeding.

Fishing should be reduced, but this reduction should be spread over the whole of Europe. However, the
Commission is side-stepping the most important measure to save the eel, namely the transplantation of the
eel
fry which the French, Spaniards and Portuguese are currently catching in large numbers for
consumption or eel farming.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/871

In the south of Sweden there is a small-scale eel fishery which is of great importance for local traditions.
That being so, what can the Commission do to adapt the new rules on eel fishing so that the responsibility
and burden is shared by the whole of Europe?

(1) COM(2003) 573.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2004)

The Commission agrees that eel fisheries should be managed in an equitable way across Europe, for the
benefit of all parties concerned, and with contributions to conservation to be made in a fair and balanced
manner.

Sustainable eel stocks can best be maintained by ensuring that sufficient glass eel recruit from the estuaries
to populate the river basins, sufficient yellow eel survive the riverine fisheries, and finally that sufficient
silver eel survive the downstream migrations to join the stock of spawning fish. Either environmental
measures or fisheries-related measures (or both), should be used, and even then only in a consistent and
fair way. Member States should retain responsibility for implementing measures at a local level to reach
these objectives. In the longer term, the Commission is committed to proposing a Community-wide system
for eel management that is equitable in respect of management action taken in different areas and in
different life stages.

However, given the immediate scientific concerns about the state of the eel stock, short-term and
emergency measures are also needed. The measures that will have the largest immediate contribution to
the spawning stock of adult eel are to ensure the highest possible survival of silver eel during their
downstream migration. The Commission will therefore focus on this topic as a matter of urgency when
developing its proposals, and will consider ways to reduce the mortality of silver eel due to both fishing
and to environmental modifications.

(2004/C 78 E/0924)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3886/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Alcatel Italia and the seat of the European Satellite Agency

In June 2003 the management of Alcatel presented its financial plans, which including cutting about 1 300
jobs, most of them in Italy (at Cittaducale in the province of Rieti and Battipaglia in the province of
Salerno). It should be remembered that Alcatel, as well as producing telecommunications equipment, is
Europe’s biggest supplier of satellite technology. Its employees are therefore what are commonly known as
‘highly-specialised’ workers. Although the closure of these plants will lead to an employment crisis which
would hit specialised workers, many of whom are women and young people, there is also a possibility that
the European Satellite Agency may be set up in Lazio. For this possibility to become a reality, the
competent Italian authorities and the entities involved are trying to plead the casue of the Lazio region as
the ideal location. In the light of the employment problems which closure of the Alcatel plants would
cause, the choice of Rome (or another municipality in Lazio) as the headquarters takes on even greater
importance.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. whether the threatened crisis involving Alcatel may influence the decision concerning the seat of the

Satellite Agency;

2. whether it intends to back Rome’s application to become the seat of the Satellite Agency, in view of
the possibility of finding new jobs for specialised workers who would otherwise be threatened with
unemployment?