WRITTEN QUESTION E-0659/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Sinking of the trading vessel Zafir.
C 26 E/84 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 (2001/C 26 E/102) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0659/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Sinking of the trading vessel Zafirí (9 March 2000) Some days ago, the Zafirí, a Portuguese-registered trading vessel, belonging to a Swiss-based shipping company, sank after being struck by the Italian vessel Expresso Cataniaí in south Italian waters, with the loss of thirteen lives. Most of those who died were Galician seamen. Has the Commission taken any steps to clarify the causes of the sinking of the Zafirí, recover the bodies of the men lost and provide support for the families of the crew, both as regards their immediate needs and any compensation to which they may be entitled? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (6 April 2000) Like the honourable Member, the Commission learned through media coverage that the trading vessel Zafirí sank off the coast of Calabria, Italy. The Commission regrets the tragic consequences of the accident and the irretrievable loss of human lives and extends its sympathy to the victimsí families. As regards the causes of the accident, we must await the results of the inquiry that the Italian authorities are carrying out. The Commission must emphasise that sea rescue and salvage do not come under its jurisdiction, which explains why the authorities involved in the aftermath of the accident did not seek its assistance. For its part, the Commission places great emphasis on safety at sea in the context of transport policy. In this perspective, it believes that measures must be taken at Community level to improve safety. To this end, it has submitted a number of specific proposals on this topic to the Council, in particular regarding oil tankers (1). Other specific proposals designed to improve safety at sea will be put forward by the end of the year. (1) COM(2000) 142 final. (2001/C 26 E/103) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0660/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: The Galician companies Bazan and Astano in the merger of Spanish State shipyards The Spanish national authority responsible for industrial State holdings is considering the possible merger of the Galician shipyards belonging to the firms Bazan and Astano, to form a single civil and military ship- building company. Does the Commission know about this and can it say whether the merger would mean that the Galician shipyards could therefore start building ships for the merchant navy once again? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (10 April 2000) This Written Question deals with the same subject as the Honourable Memberís Written Question E-94/00 (1). The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its reply to that question. As was explained in that reply, any merged company would be unable to resume merchant shipbuilding. (1) OJ C 280 E, 3. 10. 2000, p. 176