WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2692/98 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO Emergency aid for the Sudan
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/9 (1999/C 320/012) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2573/98 by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Fishing agreement with the Comores 1994-1997 Can the Commission provide details of the amount of fish caught, the species caught, the market value of the fish and where the fish was landed under the 1994-1997 EU fishing agreement with the Comores? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2572/98 and E-2573/98 given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1998) The fishing protocol signed with the Comoros Islands covered the three-year period from 20 July 1994 to 19 July 1997. For a permitted total of 37 vessels, the Comorian authorities issued 35 annual licences to Community tuna seiners in the first year, 33 in the second year and 37 in the third year, i. e. an average licence uptake rate of 95 %. The average tonnage of the vessels operating in the area is 1 320 GRT, the smallest being 760 GRT and the largest 2 640 GRT. The total annual catches were: 2 1994: 3 606 tonnes of tuna, worth approximately ECU 2,5 million, 2 1995: 1 728 tonnes of tuna worth approximately ECU 1 million, 2 1996: 3 143 tonnes of tuna worth approximately ECU 2 million, 2 1997 (until 17. 7. 1998): 1 830 tonnes of tuna worth approximately ECU 1,5 million. The main species of tuna landed was bonito (approx. 70 %), followed by yellowfin tuna (approx. 20 %). Since tuna is a highly migratory species, vessels holding a fishing licence under the agreement with the Comoros Islands generally also hold licences under the other agreements in the region, namely with the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius. This makes it difficult to calculate the number of days spent in the Comorian exclusive economic zone. Catches are generally landed in the ports of Victoria (Seychelles), Port-Louis (Mauritius) and Antsiranana (Madagascar). (1999/C 320/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2692/98 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Emergency aid for the Sudan The largest country in Africa currently finds itself in the grip of a severe crisis which has placed 1,2 to 2,6 million lives at risk. The number of children already caught up in the famine sweeping the Sudan stands at 600 000. Furthermore, a 15-year civil war has compounded the plight of the country, leaving its people all but bereft of the means with which to survive unaided and plunging them into poverty. How does the Commission intend to respond to this situation? Has it put together a humanitarian aid programme to provide famine relief? If not, does it intend to do so in the near future, and in what form?