WRITTEN QUESTION No. 78/98 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Driftnets
2. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 304/29 Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998) The Commission will make the necessary contacts in order to obtain all available information on the matter described. It will not hesitate to initiate the procedure provided in Article 169 of the EC Treaty, should this prove necessary. (98/C 304/40) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0078/98 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (30 January 1998) Subject: Driftnets Although the Italian Government has promised to support a complete ban on the use of driftnets, the Italian fisheries union La Pesca recently met with the European Commission seeking an exemption for driftnets of 8 km and under. What discussions did the Commission have with the Italian Government following that meeting? What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that Italy fulfills its obligations to ban the use of driftnets? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998) The Commission did not meet Italian fishermenís associations recently on the subject of the length of driftnets permitted for fishing. The Commission does not envisage any exemption to the current Community rules on driftnet length. The Commission is monitoring the progress of the Italian plan for the restructuring of the driftnet fleet. It is hoped that the Italian fishermen and boat owners will strongly support the plan. (98/C 304/41) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/98 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (30 January 1998) Subject: Incineration of domestic waste When will the Commission be publishing the draft directive on dioxin emissions from the incineration of domestic waste? Can the Commission give details of the main proposals which will be contained in the draft directive? Will the Commission be making any proposals to encourage more environmentally sustainable forms of waste management, especially recycling, reduction and reuse, over incineration and landfill? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998) The Commission discussed with Member States experts a working paper on incineration of waste twice last year and on 26 February 1998. The adoption of a proposal for a Council directive on waste incineration is foreseen for autumn this year