WRITTEN QUESTION E-2509/99 by Carmen Fraga Estévez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Actual number of fishing vessels using driftnets in 1997.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/57 (2000/C 280 E/057) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2507/99 by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: Fishing On 7 November 1999, French vessels prevented over 50 Spanish fishing boats from leaving the port of Lorient, thus stopping the fishermen concerned from fishing for anchovy in waters in which (unlike their French colleagues) they are fully entitled to do so. This is not, unfortunately, an isolated incident, since French fishermen are widely known to have behaved in such a way on previous occasions. Could the Commission say what action is to be taken in order to guarantee the safety of Spanish fishermen? What penalties is the Commission to impose by way of punishment for such behaviour? What compensation is to be made available to the fishermen who suffered as a result of the incident? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission is aware of the closure of the port of Lorient by French fishermen and notes the rapid resolution of the conflict pursuant to a meeting between all interested parties. All fleets exploiting resources in Community fishing waters do so in the pursuance of Community legislation and, when operating in the same area, resolve any conflicts arising from their fishing activities by common agreement between all fleets concerned. The security of fishermen in the port of Lorient is the responsibility of the authorities in that port. These authorities are also responsible for citing any infringements which are committed and the subsequent prosecution of these infringements. Compensation for any damage, as a consequence of the above closure of the port, must be claimed in accordance with the applicable rules in France. (2000/C 280 E/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2509/99 by Carmen Fraga EstØvez (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Actual number of fishing vessels using driftnets in 1997 (22 December 1999) In its combined reply of 8 October 1999 to questions P-1537/99 and E-1561/99 (1) concerning compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1239/98, the Commission gives the following figures for fishing vessels using driftnets in the North East Atlantic in 1997 (the most recent reference year for the gradual phasing-out of such nets): ü France: 43 vessels ü Ireland: 30 vessels ü United Kingdom: 5 vessels. Leaving aside the case of Ireland, where the vagueness of the figure quoted makes it difficult to believe any statement to the effect that the country is complying with the phasing-out plan, the Commission itself, in its Report on enforcement of Community legislation concerning the use of driftnets in 1997 in the North East Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (SEC(98) 477), provides other figures: ü France: 68 authorised and 35 in actual operation ü Ireland: 11 ü United Kingdom: 5. C 280 E/58 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Can the Commission account for this discrepancy in the figures for the countries other than the United Kingdom? When are the Commissionís files to be updated? What is to be the final figure selected, and why? (1) OJ C 170 E, 20. 6. 2000, p. 34. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission relied on the data supplied and verified by the Member States in question regarding the number of vessels using drift nets in 1995, 1996 and 1997, but became aware that these did not tally with the number of vessels observed by inspectors during the inspection and monitoring campaigns carried out since 1995. Prior to 1998 Community legislation did not require lists of vessels using drift nets to be reported as access to this method of fishing was unrestricted, nor did vessels need permits to use such nets. It transpires that some vessels did start casual fishing for tuna only to abandon it again, sometimes after only a few trips, whereas the figures in the annual reports on implementing Community legislation concerning use of drift nets in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean relate to known vessels. As stated in its reply to the Honourable Memberís questions P-1537/99 and E-1561/99 (1), the Commission wishes to emphasise that its inspectors will verify Member Statesí data for 1995-97 when carrying out checks in accordance with Article 29 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (2). (1) OJ C 170 E, 20. 6. 2000, p. 34. (2) OJ L 261, 20. 10. 1993. (2000/C 280 E/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2513/99 by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: Third-country crews on board Community vessels Since the beginning of the year, in order to take advantage of the liberalisation of cabotage and in their eagerness to cut costs, some European shipowners in the merchant navy and fisheries sectors have tried to replace their crews of Community seamen with low-cost crews made up of seamen from non-Community countries. According to reports from trade unions in the sector, the sole purpose of facilitating access by non-Community seamen to the market in question is to encourage precarious employment under working and social welfare conditions which are inferior to those laid down by law in the European employment market. What view does the Commission take of this development, which effectively undermines the social rights of Community workers? What measures is the Commission adopting and what action does it intend to take in order to put a stop to this practice of social dumping? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (14 February 2000) The Commission is very concerned by the decline in employment of Community seamen and the corresponding increase in the employment of seamen from third countries under non-Community conditions both in maritime cabotage and transport between the Member States. There is no harmonisa- tion at Community level with respect to the Member Statesí right to employ seamen from third countries