WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4014/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS Water supply on Aegean islands
C 325/48 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 12. 11. 1999 the Regulation is intended to improve the Cooperation and Development)agreement competitiveness of European shipyards by means of an appropriate aid policy and overcome the gap separating them from their international competitors, in particular Japan and Korea. in this sector, (1) Regulation (EC) 1540/98 of 29 June 1998, OJ L 202, 18. 7. 1998. (1999/C 325/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4013/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Replacement of old fishing boats (8 January 1999) The policy of regenerating the fishing fleet provides for the replacement of old fishing vessels with new ones. The old vessels are to be withdrawn and scrapped. In Greece, however, this means scrapping the traditional wooden caïques, many of which are literally masterpieces of shipbuilding. What is destroyed with them (and the process is extremely efficient: they are literally shattered by being dropped from cranes from a great height and then ‘carved’ up by chain saws, etc. ) is centuries of craftsmanship and skill, cultural icons and symbols of co-existence with the sea and seafaring. Could the Commission, therefore, seek ways of withdrawing these vessels from the fishing industry without destroying them in this terrible manner, possibly by giving them to recognised nautical clubs or similar non- profiting making organisations? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (16 March 1999) In its recent proposal to the Council laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (1) the Commission provides, among other things, for measures to adjust fishing effort, including measures to stop vessels’ fishing activities permanently. These measures, which may be applied only to vessels more than 15 years old, attract public aid for the scrapping of vessels, permanent transfer of vessels to third countries and permanent reassignment of vessels to uses in the Community other than fishing. In this connection, the proposal provides that where a vessel is definitively assigned for the preservation of historical heritage in the territory of a Member State, public aid may be granted on the same terms as for scrapping, i. e. the maximum public contribution is paid. (1) OJ C 16, 21. 1. 1999. (1999/C 325/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4014/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Water supply on Aegean islands (8 January 1999) The islands of the Aegean are encountering an increasing number of problems with their water supply owing to the limited possibilities of pumping up ground water and the decline of traditional methods of collecting rainwater. At the same time, current needs and the pressure of tourism are bringing about an increase in demand for water. The problem is being tackled by using expensive methods of transporting water from other regions, though in this case too, supplies are precarious and the quality of the water is questionable. Encouraging the trend towards support for renewable energy sources, could the Commission help to bring about a permanent solution to the water supply problem on the islands by means of desalination and the use of solar, wind and kinetic energy?