WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1872/97 by Gianni TAMINO to the Commission. 'Health and wealth from the sea' campaign
C 76/62 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 3. 98 (98/C 76/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1869/97 by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (30 May 1997) Subject: Community aid to the Galician fisheries industry The EU Agriculture Council recently decided to grant ECU 3 million (PTA 500 million) for Spanish cephalopod fishing based in the Canary Islands for the period 1996-97. The main aim of this measure is restore the competitiveness of these products on the international market. Since this sector is also important to the economy of the Spanish region of Galicia, can the Commission say what measures, similar to those deployed for the Canary Islands for the abovementioned purposes, are being introduced or have been introduced for Galicia and what criteria can be used as a basis for similar applications in order to provide specific aid for the Galician fisheries industry and obtain assistance wherever appropriate with a view to boosting the international competitiveness of Galician fisheries products? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (30 July 1977) Council Regulation (EC) No 712/97 setting up a specific measure in favour of cephalopod producers permanently based in the Canary Islands (1) renews for two years (1996-97) the aid scheme introduced in 1993 by Regulation (EEC) No 1658/93 (2) to take account of specific conditions in this very remote region as required by Council Decision 91/314/EEC setting up the Poseican programme (3). This provided that the Community would endeavour to improve the export position for cephalopods originating in the Canary Islands, which had lost competitiveness on the Japanese market, their principal outlet, as a result of integration of the islands into Community territory. This is then a specific aid adopted under the provisions applicable to the Community’s most remote regions and in the present regulatory framework cannot be extended to other regions or situations. (1) OJ L 106, 24. 4. 1997. (2) OJ L 158, 30. 6. 1993. (3) OJ L 171, 29. 6. 1991. (98/C 76/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1872/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (30 May 1997) Subject: Health and wealth from the seaí campaign With reference to the above-mentioned Commission information campaign, which is aimed at students in 15 000 secondary schools and universities, has provision been made, or will it be made, for appropriate information to be given on the adverse effects of intensive fishing practices such as the use of driftnets and turbo-blowers?