WRITTEN QUESTION P-2464/99 by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission. Drift net fishing.
C 219 E/170 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 during a journey through two or more Member States. The prior authorisation of the Member States concerned must normally be entered on the pass. By way of derogation, hunters with firearms classified in categories C and D according to Annex I to the Directive and marksmen with firearms in categories B, C and D may, without prior authorisation, be in possession of one or more firearms during a journey through two or more Member States with a view to engaging in their activities, provided that they are in possession of a European firearms pass listing such firearm or firearms and provided that they are able to substantiate the reasons for their journey, in particular by producing an invitation. The Commission is keen to point out that the European firearms pass differs in purpose from documents issued by the national authorities of the Member States with regard to the use of firearms, especially hunting weapons referred to by the honourable Member. In fact, the purpose of the European firearms pass is to facilitate journeys of Community citizens with their weapons between two or more Member States. The national documents that are required by the Member States refer to the possession and inasmuch as the citizens in question are especially the use of these weapons in each Member State, engaged in their activities in the territory of a Member State. As part of recent consultations by the Commission with the authorities of the Member States as well as with the parties involved, and with a view to the report that the Commission will present to the Council and Parliament in 2000, it seems that the European firearms pass is an essential part of the scheme introduced by Directive 91/477/EEC, which has been welcomed by all the parties involved particularly with regard to facilitating the intra-Community journeys of hunters and marksmen. The report that has been mentioned will devote a part of its findings to the operation of the European firearms pass. (1) OJ L 256, 13. 9. 1991. (2000/C 219 E/217) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2464/99 by Dominique Souchet (UEN) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Drift net fishing The European Union has decided to ban the use of drift nets from 31 December 2001 for tuna fishing in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The European Union has provided for financial aid under the new regulatory framework in order to enable vessels to be converted for use with other fishing gear. Following a series of studies carried out by the fishing industry, it appears that vessels equipped for tuna fishing using drift nets cannot easily be converted for use with other fishing gear. Fisherman are therefore faced with the prospect of having to build new vessels that are more suited to the regulatory changes being introduced in the industry. In this specific case, will the Commission consider the possibility, for the building of suitable vessels, of a specific allocation of kilowatts being made on an exceptional basis for the equipment concerned, which would of course be complementary and additional to the existing fishing vessel building programme? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 January 2000) On 22 November 1999 the Fisheries Council reached an agreement on the Regulation laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, which sets the conditions on which a Member State may renew and modernise its fishing fleet, with or without public aid