WRITTEN QUESTION E-1946/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ban on unloading EU catches in Chile.
C 219 E/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 In most Member States, the universal service operator is obliged to provide services on a common tariff and quality basis throughout the territory. Therefore, even if the designated operator only faces competi- tion in part of the territory, the positive impact in terms of price and quality is transferred uniformly to other areas. the Commission is currently surveying in detail In addition, the availability and use, quality and affordability of advanced telecommunications services by residential and business users in all the regions of the Community (1). (1) The Survey study on the situation of telecommunications services in the regions of the Communityí is being undertaken by EOS Gallup. This study is currently in progress and results are expected by the end of 1999. (2000/C 219 E/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1946/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Ban on unloading EU catches in Chile Given the problems which Community fishing fleets are experiencing because of the continued Chilean ban on offloading and transferring fish in Chilean ports ü a situation which constitutes a straightforward obstacle to trade violating articles V and XI. 1 of the 1994 GATT ü can the Commission tell me what measures it has taken to persuade the Chilean authorities to lift the ban? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (23 November 1999) in the Following the lodging of a complaint by the Spanish long-line vessel association (ANAPA) framework of the Trade barriers regulation (TBR), Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 of 22 December 1994 laying down Community procedures in the field of common commercial policy in order to ensure the exercise of the Communityís rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the World trade organisation (WTO) (1), the Commission initiated an investigation. The report of this investigation indicates the Chilean legislation is not compatible with Chileís obligations under the WTO. The TBR report advocated several alternative courses of action. Firstly it suggested opening bilateral negotiations with Chile in order to achieve a short term agreement on the immediate question of transit, to be followed by a long term, multilateral, agreement on the conservation and management measures for swordfish in the South East Pacific area. Secondly it suggested opening a dispute settlement procedure in the framework of the WTO, or alternatively resorting to the International tribunal in Hamburg for an interpretation of the United Nations Convention of the law of the sea provisions. Subsequently, bilateral negotiations have been initiated with Chile, without excluding resort to the WTO/Unclos alternatives. These bilateral negotiations continue but have not yet shown any major progress. The Commission is currently assessing the overall situation. (1) OJ L 349, 31. 12. 1994