WRITTEN QUESTION E-1503/99 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Situation of the fishing fleet belonging to EC-Argentinean joint enterprises.
20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/25 (2000/C 170 E/025) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1503/99 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Situation of the fishing fleet belonging to EC-Argentinean joint enterprises Before the fisheries agreement between the EU and Argentina expired, the Argentinean Government thereby unilaterally adopted a series of measures which blatantly discriminate against infringing and contradicting the provisions of the agreement. They concern the allocation and reduction of fishing quotas, the establishment of marketing areas applicable to the freezer fleet only, a reduction in the number of Community crew members, restrictions making it difficult for Community workers to obtain visas, etc. This situation prompted Community ship-owners ü mainly in Galicia ü to lodge a complaint with the European Court of Justice against the European Commission, on the grounds that the Commission had failed to offer the fleet adequate legal protection, in that the EU institutions were powerless against the measures adopted unilaterally by the Argentinean Government. the EU fleet, Can the Commission say what steps it intends to take to safeguard the interests of EU-Argentinean joint enterprises in Argentinean waters? By what date does it envisage adopting them? Why has the EU hitherto never made any efforts to this end? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1999) In the last few years, catches of Merluza hubbsi in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Argentina have risen substantially, threatening the conservation of this stock. Faced with this situation, the Argentinian Government declared an áemergencia pesqueraí and adopted a series of management and conservation measures. Some of these measures have had an impact on the activity of vessels operating under the fisheries agreement between the Community and Argentina. Their adoption without consulting the Community has led the Community to consider that they affect the general balance of the agreement. The Commission has several times made its position clear to the Argentinian side, in particular with regard to the difference in treatment between freezer ships and vessels taking fresh fish. Payment of the balance of money for scientific and technical assistance under the fisheries agreement between the Community and Argentina has been blocked. Despite the fact that this agreement and the rights and obligations arising out of it for the contracting parties expired on 24 May 1999, and that both the joint enterprises and vessels transferred under the agreement are entities in Argentinian law, the Commission is maintaining regular contact with the Argentine authorities and is following developments closely. (2000/C 170 E/026) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1505/99 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Situation of the fishing fleet in the NAFO area in the context of bilateral relations between the European Union and Canada The Community fishing fleet, which operates in international waters under multilateral NAFO control, has seen its ships considerably reduced in numbers over the last few years and the allowable catches have also been reduced. EU and Canadian delegations met recently in Cologne to sign a commercial and economic cooperation agreement, which will not cover fishery relations. There are therefore no guarantees that Canada will repeal Law C-27 which authorises the country to fish outside the 200-mile exclusive economic