WRITTEN QUESTION E-0387/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Seizure of Galician boats by Irish naval vessels.
C 374 E/64 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 (2000/C 374 E/074) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0387/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Seizure of Galician boats by Irish naval vessels (15 February 2000) There have been various incidents in recent days in which Galician boats fishing in the Sole area have been seized by vessels belonging to the Irish navy, on the grounds that the Galician boats had committed technical irregularities. The boats were released following payment of a symbolic fine, but the halting of fishing activity during the seizures caused serious economic damage. Is the Commission aware of these incidents, which have been recurring constantly, and is it aware of the pressure under which the Galician fleet is operating? Does it consider such behaviour on the part of the Irish authorities to be appropriate? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (13 March 2000) The Commission was not aware of the facts referred to by the Honourable Member. The Commission would ask the Honourable Member to provide precise details so that it can carry out the investigations required. (2000/C 374 E/075) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0392/00 by Inger Schörling (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Public access to information and protection of source (8 February 2000) Commissioner Neil Kinnock has maintained in the Swedish press that the Swedish model of public access to information and protection of the source of information is not appropriate for the Commission. In Kinnockís view, apparently, important decisions would be taken informally if public access were introduced and protection of the source of information would result in more secretiveness. Kinnock also claimed that Paul van Buitenen had changed from being a worthy informant exposing irregularities within the Commission into an unworthy informant aiming to blacken the name of the Commission as an institution. Can Commissioner Kinnock elaborate on the reasons why he has concluded that public access to information and protection of the source of information would have the opposite effect from that intended if applied in the EU? Can the Commissioner describe in more detail what it is in Paul van Buitenenís conduct which has transformed him from a worthy into an unworthy informant? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) The Commission recently published its proposal for a regulation concerning public access to documents of the European Institutions (1). It sets out the principles and rules, which are in the Commissionís opinion necessary in order to guarantee transparency for the European citizens with regard to information held by the Institutions. In drawing up its proposal the Commission has taken account of the positive experience it has acquired in connection with the code of conduct (2), Member Statesí legislation on access to documents, the Communities. in particular good practice in the Nordic countries, and the specific situation of The Parliament and Council will discuss this text and finally lay down the binding rules on this topic