WRITTEN QUESTION P-0702/04 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Greenland halibut recovery: extraordinary measures to be adopted by the Commission.
Date: 2004-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: FIFG, North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, fishery management, fishing industry, scientific report

C 84 E/658

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Furthermore, given that the organisation involved in the above case (the Fisacat-CISL company) is now
involved in other initiatives financed by means of the European Social Fund (such as the Flexible Training
System project), does the Commission consider this to be compatible with the purposes and the objectives
which that Fund is intended to serve?

(1) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001, p. 11.
(2) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 225.

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

As indicated in its reply to Written Question E-2345/02 by the Honourable Member, the Italian Ministry
of Labour has suspended the payment
for the Edunet project as there are ongoing investigations
concerning this element of the programme.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has opened a co-ordination case on the basis of Article 1 (2) of
Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 (1).

This investigation, in which OLAF provided assistance and technical support, was carried out by the Italian
authority (Guardia di Finanza).

The above-mentioned action indicated irregularities to the detriment of
the European Social Fund.
Subsequently, the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal proceedings involving ten persons.
A final decision by the Italian Court in this matter has not yet been notified to the Commission.

OLAF is currently engaged in the financial and judicial follow-up in this matter.

The Commission is now evaluating the possibility to close the ADAPT programme with the exception of
the Edunet project subject
in accordance with Article 52 §5 of Regulation
(EC) No 1260/1999 (2).

to legal proceedings,

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations

conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0742)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0702/04

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 March 2004)

Subject: Greenland halibut recovery: extraordinary measures to be adopted by the Commission

In its reply of 27 November to my question P-3264/03 (1), the Commission said that a working party was
being set up within the Directorate-General on Fisheries to study all the implications of the decisions
adopted at the annual NAFO meeting in 2003 for the Community fleet.

On 19 January, the Director-General answered my question in the Fisheries Commission concerning
Mr McGuire’s new scientific reports (cid:1) which contradicted previous NAFO reports (cid:1) by saying that the
Commission would study them. Fresh meetings with the scientists have recently been held in Madrid.

What is the current state of affairs with regard to this issue?

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Is the Commission going to take the new reports into account at the June and September 2004 NAFO
meetings, so as better to defend the EU’s fishing interests?

What concrete plans does the Commission have, and what measures does it intend to take to help the fleet
affected by the NAFO decisions of 2003 on Greenland halibut?

(1) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 248.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2004)

The Commission has studied the McGuire report and participated in a meeting arranged by the Spanish
authorities. Following a thorough examination in consultation with all Community representatives of the
NAFO Scientific Council, the Commission does not consider that the report adds any new elements and,
therefore, remains confident in the work performed by the Scientific Council of NAFO in June 2003. The
Commission is of the view that the most appropriate forum to debate this report would be the NAFO
Scientific Council meeting in June 2004.

Amendments to the FIFG Regulation (1) are currently under discussion in the Council, intended to alleviate
the burden on fishermen following the adoption of recovery plans, including socio-economic measures for
fishermen. The Commission is examining these favourably.

Alternative fishing opportunities have also been made available to the Community NAFO fleet through
quota transfers in Greenland and Faroese Waters.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements

regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0743)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0703/04

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Member State contributions to the Community Budget

(4 March 2004)

The contributions made by each Member State to the EU budget are either less than 1 % of their national
income, or very slightly more.

Given that the Community Budget is essential for the EU to achieve balanced development and cohesion,
and to pursue the Lisbon and Gothenburg objectives, why do these contributions have to go on counting
towards each Member State’s deficit?

If they did not,
is it not the case that the need to plug the national budgetary deficit by cutting
contributions to the Community Budget would cease to be a pretext for preventing an increase in revenue
for the new EU financial prospective for 2007-2013?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2004)

The EC Treaty obliges Member States to avoid excessive deficit positions (defined as general government
‘general
deficit below a reference value of 3 % of gross domestic product
government’ is defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system
of national and regional accounts (1)
in the Community (2), and the corresponding statistical data
requirements are the ones in ESA95. All the expenditures included within the ‘general government’
definition do have a bearing on the excessive deficit. Member States’ contributions to the EU budget are
part of the expenditure of ‘general government’.

(GDP)). The concept of