WRITTEN QUESTION P-2494/99 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Protection of wild salmon stocks in the Tornionjoki (Torneälv) river.
C 225 E/148 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 The Commission has furthermore recently received a number of complaints from animal welfare organisations alleging that the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC are still being breached at a number of Greek slaughterhouses. The Commission takes the view that the complaints that it has received are, at least partially, corroborated by the missions mentioned above. The Commission recently opened infringement proceedings against Greece in respect of breaches of the above-mentioned Directive. (1) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993. (2) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (2000/C 225 E/161) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2494/99 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Protection of wild salmon stocks in the Tornionjoki (Torneälv) river In 1996 the Finnish government issued an important fishing regulation on the protection of wild salmon stocks in the Baltic, which sought to protect the access of the salmon to their spawning grounds. The natural increase of salmon improved significantly for a time in the Tornionjoki (Torneälv) and Simojoki rivers. In 1998 restrictions on open sea fishing were relaxed and salmon catches in the Tornionjoki collapsed to half the previous yearís level. The protection and reproduction of salmon stocks were affected not only by the relaxation of protection measures regarding sea fishing but also by the fact that exceptional licences needed to be obtained to catch whitefish in the sea area round the Tornionjoki estuary granted during the period of the ban on salmon fishing. A particularly large number of salmon heading upstream are caught in the nets intended for whitefish. Other major problems are the years of overfishing for salmon in sea areas, the problems of monitoring fisheries, and the differing points of view of the Finnish and Swedish fisheries authorities as regards fishing and protection measures. The wild salmon in the Baltic Sea area is on the EU list of endangered species and the genetic diversity of wild salmon stocks has been reduced as a result of long-term overfishing. What concrete measures does the Commission propose to take to save the threatened wild salmon stocks in the Baltic? Is the Commission prepared to intervene to prevent illegal sea fishing if the Finnish Government does not do so? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (14 January 2000) The Commission has taken note of the positive signs for the Baltic salmon. In February 1997 the International Baltic Sea fisheries commission (IBSFC) adopted a salmon action plan (SAP). The objectives in this action plan are to achieve a natural production of at least 50 % of the potential capacity of all wild salmon rivers, to undertake habitat improvement and to re-establish salmon in potential salmon rivers. The plan has been complemented with national measures such as closed areas and time restrictions of fishing. The International council for the exploration of sea (ICES) has confirmed that the management actions taken have resulted in a considerable increase in the numbers of wild salmon returning to home rivers. The higher numbers of wild salmon spawning in the rivers have resulted in increased production of wild smolt (juvenile salmon). The same improvement has not been observed in all salmon rivers. However in the case of the Torneå river the increase has been very large and ICES reports that salmon occur in parts of the river for the first time since the Second World War. According to ICES and to national sources the production in river Torneå has not collapsed; on the contrary, in 1998 the production was among the highest observed since the early 1970ís. Although a reduction in production was observed in 1999, production is still very good 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/149 and almost 5 times higher than that observed in the period 1976-1987. Furthermore a reduction in the 1999 production was expected as the returning salmon were from less numerous year classes, affected by the M 74 syndrome, and hence fewer salmon would have participated in the spawning. Reduced run and catches in 1999 might not therefore be the result of the whitefish fisheries. Provided the by-catches of salmon in whitefish fisheries is properly accounted for within the available Finnish quota or released alive when caught in this fishery, these catches will not undermine management in accordance with the salmon action plan. The Commission is convinced of the need to continue with a responsible management strategy as laid down in the salmon action plan in order to achieve the objective of rebuilding of the wild salmon stocks in these rivers. (2000/C 225 E/162) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2495/99 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Legal certainty in the information society The Commission has made impressive steps (through its proposals COM(98) 586 and COM(96) 392) towards giving participants in e-commerce and the information society a firm legal basis and legal scrutiny. Can it confirm that it will do nothing which would undermine this legal security, for example by making Internet Service Providers liable in all countries, purely on the grounds that websites are accessible in those countries? it ensure that Will liability will be in line with the abovementioned proposals and avoid the possibility of lawyers being able to áshop aroundí for the national law most beneficial to them? future initiatives concerning extra-contractual Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) The Commissionís objective with its proposal for a Parliament and Council directive on certain legal aspects of electronic commerce in the internal market (1) and proposal for a Parliament and Council directive amending for the third time Directive 83/189/EEC laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (2), has been to create a coherent and predictable legal framework for the development of e-commerce within the internal market. The recogni- tion that a clearly defined legal framework based on established internal market principles is an essential element to promote e-commerce in the internal market is reflected in the political agreement on the common position on the proposed e-commerce directive reached by the Council on 7 December 1999. The directive is based on the principle of country-of-origin control of information society services, particularly Internet service providers. This principle, together with the exemption from liability for ámere conduití and ácachingí and the limitation of liability for services consisting of hosting information for third parties, will create the required legal certainty and will stimulate investments. The proposed e-commerce directive does not establish rules on private international law nor does it deal with the jurisdiction of courts. The Commission is analysing the information it has received from business and consumers alike in the context of a public hearing on the subject of electronic commerce jurisdiction and applicable law and will take it into account in presenting any new initiatives in this area. (1) OJ C 30, 5. 2. 1999. (2) OJ C 307, 16. 10. 1996