WRITTEN QUESTION P-2484/99 by Josu Ortuondo Larrea (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Information on the phasing-out of vessels using driftnets under Regulation 1239/98.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/145 The Commission has supported the pigmeat market quite actively from spring 1998 increasing export refunds, providing for aid for private storage and supplying pigmeat as food aid to Russia. The Commission is committed to support the market at difficult times to avoid extensive harm to the sector, but the pigmeat market is supposed to be self-regulating. The prices will affect supply and vice versa. The Commission has used export refunds extensively to support the market but, as the world markets are limited, there is a limit to the extent it is feasible to support exports. Also, World trade organisation (WTO) ceilings have to be taken into account in European export policy. Since summer 1999 the prices improved considerably, but more recently the prices again have seen a seasonal low, as the supply tends to be very high in the last quarter of each year. One should remember that in the pig sector there are seasonal trends as well as longer cycles, where prices adjust according to the supply and vice-versa. The pig farmers are aware that after good times there always come poor times and they should be prepared. Unfortunately, many have not been prepared. The Commission has discussed other possible measures (e. g. to create voluntary based funds) with Member States on several occasions, but so far these ideas have received little support from the majority of Member States. (2000/C 225 E/158) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2484/99 by Josu Ortuondo Larrea (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Information on the phasing-out of vessels using driftnets under Regulation 1239/98 Regulation (EC) 1239/98 (1) outlaws the use of driftnets in the Atlantic and Mediterranean tuna fisheries as from 1 January 2002. This Regulation states that the maximum number of vessels per Member State using driftnets may not exceed 60 % of the total so doing for the period 1995-1997. In view of the incomplete nature of the information previously provided by it to other MEPs, can the Commission now supply a precise list, with the registration numbers of all the fishing vessels which have been in operation each year between 1995 and 1999, broken down by Member State? Can it also state whether the fishing vessels operating each year have been the same ones, with the same registration numbers, or whether there have been variations? (1) OJ L 171, 17. 6. 1998, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) In conformity with Article 11 (4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 894/97, as modified by Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 of 8 June 1998 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources (1), Member States are obliged to notify, as from 1998, the list of vessels authorised to use driftnets. All Member States concerned have transmitted, pursuant to this provision, the lists of named vessels. As regards the years before 1998, there were no provisions included in Community legislation obliging Member States to submit lists of vessels nor to restrict access by requiring that vessels be authorised for using driftnets. Indeed, during that period, Community fishing vessels could freely engage in driftnet fishery. The Member States concerned have verified which of their vessels have used driftnets in the period 1995-1997 and, on request, communicated the total number of positively identified vessels to the Commission. C 225 E/146 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 As regards the years 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Commission has provided the figures concerning the total number of vessels in its reply to written questions P-1537/99 and E-1561/99 by Mrs Fraga Estevez (2). The named lists of vessels, with regard to 1998 and 1999, have been transmitted to the authorities responsible for fisheries control in the Member States concerned. Taking into account that this information relates to individual, natural or legal, persons, in accordance with Article 37 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/ 93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (3), the named lists cannot be published in detail as requested. As from 1998, the vessels identified on the named lists communicated to the Commission are, with few exemptions, in both years the same vessels. On the basis of preliminary verifications by the Commission, it appears that, in the years 1995, 1996 and 1997, a number of vessels used driftnets, as to commence an opportunistic fishery on tuna. Some of these vessels seem to have abandoned this fishery already after one season or even after a few fishing trips. (1) OJ L 171, 17. 6. 1998. (2) OJ C 170 E, 20. 6. 2000, p. 33. (3) OJ L 261, 20. 10. 1993. (2000/C 225 E/159) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2487/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Participation by the Directorate-General for Social Affairs in public procurement policy What contribution is the Directorate-General for Social Affairs making in the drafting on the forthcoming Commission Communiciation on Public Procurement and Social Aspects? Bearing in mind the law enacted by the City of Madrid favouring public procurement from companies with a good record of employing people with disabilities and the complaint to the Commission against this law made by the buildersí organisation, CNC, will the Commission ensure that the Communication makes explicit that such affirmative action by local government is both legal and to be encouraged? What account is the Commission taking in preparing the Communication of the provision of incentives to companies complying with good social, environmental labour and human rights standards in third countries, in line with the European Parliamentís resolution (A4-0508/98) (1) on EU standards for European enterprises operating in developing countries: towards a European Code of Conduct adopted on 15 January 1999? (1) OJ C 104, 14. 4. 1999, p. 180. Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) Although the objectives of the Directives on public contracts are essentially economic in nature, there are various options for taking into account the pursuit of social objectives, in conformity with Community law on public contracts. The circumstances in which social criteria can be a factor in the award of public contracts have already been described in the Green Paper and the Commissionís communication on public procurement in the European Union (11 March 1998 (1)). In order to clarify the principles which apply to the pursuit of social objectives and the circumstances in which it can be taken into account, the Commission intends to draft an interpretative communication for adoption in the course of the year 2000. As regards the draft decree of the Madrid Regional Government, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-185/99 by Mr Carnero GonzÆlez (2). It would, however, point out that it is difficult, under current law, to apply award criteria relating to the structure of the enterprise rather than the quality of the tender. There is, however, nothing to prevent the specifications from laying down conditions for implementation of the contract which take account of the extent to