WRITTEN QUESTION E-4054/03 by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. National waters within the EU's EEZ.
Date: 2004-01-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common fisheries policy, competence of the Member States, exclusive economic zone, fishing area, territorial law

C 84 E/292

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0338)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4054/03

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 January 2004)

Subject: National waters within the EU’s EEZ

In response to Written Question P-3011/03 (1), Commissioner Fischler explained on 24 October 2003 that
the Member States are responsible for defining their exclusive economic zones and the boundaries between
sea areas where such a definition is necessary. The Commission gave the impression that it did not have
the information requested readily available.
In its Communication towards uniform and effective
implementation of the CFP (2), however, it states on page 8 that more than half of the catches of northern
hake are taken in ‘Irish waters’. Furthermore, on page 10 it makes reference to ‘the northern part of Dutch
waters’.

In the light of these statements relating to national waters rather than to ICES zones, can the Commission
confirm that it does in fact have the information requested in question P-3011/03 which concerned
national boundaries within particular ICES zones, and can it now provide this information? If it does not
have this information, can it on the other hand explain on what basis its assertions in COM(2003) 130
final were based?

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004.
(2) COM(2003) 130 final.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2004)

For the purpose of the Common Fisheries Policy, the term ‘Community waters’ is defined as the waters
under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Member States with the exception of waters adjacent to
non-Community territories mentioned in Annex to the EC Treaty. Therefore, as stated in response to the
Honourable Member’s Written Question P-3011/03, Member States are responsible for the delimitation of
the waters under their sovereignty or jurisdiction.

The Commission has no precise information on the delimitations of the waters which have been defined
by Member States as waters under their sovereignty or jurisdiction.

The statements in the Communication: ‘Towards uniform and effective implementation of the Common
Fisheries Policy (1)’ as referred to in the written question are based on the following information:
the statement ‘more than half of the catches of northern hake are taken in Irish waters’ is based on an
approximative aggregation of catch statistics by statistical rectangles presumably lying in waters defined by
Ireland as waters under its sovereignty or jurisdiction whilst the reference to ‘the northern part of Dutch
waters’ is based on information received from the Netherlands.

(1) COM(2003) 130 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0339)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4065/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(14 January 2004)

Subject: European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC)

As an MEP I am gravely concerned about the legitimacy of the ICG’s reported intention to replace the
EUMC by an agency with a larger remit during the summit of 12/13 December without consulting the
European Parliament. Why has Parliament not been consulted on this very important issue?