WRITTEN QUESTION E-2707/99 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Fisheries: Fleet size and MAGPs.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/93 that: In approving the Protocol on asylum for nationals of Member States of the European Union, Belgium declares that, in accordance with its obligations under the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1967 New York Protocol, it shall, in accordance with the provision set out in point (d) of the sole Article of that Protocol, carry out an individual examination of any asylum request made by a national of another Member State. í (1) (1) See the Treaty of Amsterdam, Declarations of which the Conference took note No 5, declaration by Belgium on the Protocol on asylum for nationals of Member State of the European Union. (2000/C 303 E/084) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2699/99 by Ole Krarup (EDD) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Purposes of the ECBís currency reserves The Euro is a floating currency for which in relation to fixed currencies there is no need for intervention via buying or selling. The currency reserve the ECB is establishing on a decentralised basis via the national central banks therefore does not have the purpose of fixing the price of the Euro in relation to the US dollar for example. The ECB annual report for 1998 advances a number of other functions for the currency reserve (page 74). May it be assumed from this that, in addition to these functions, the only purpose of the currency reserve is to guarantee the financial standing of the ECB, or is there any reason to expect that parts of the currency reserve may also be used for non-conventional purposes, e. g. for financial equalisation between regions to offset an inadequate EU fiscal policy? If the latter is not the case, can the Commission then confirm that the currency reserve will be used only for purposes which have already been announced in the Treaties or by the ECB? Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission (17 February 2000) The main objective of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) is to maintain stable prices. Whether the euro has fixed or floating exchange rates, variation in its external value could have an impact on inflation. The European Central Bank must be able to intervene on the exchange market, which means that it must hold exchange reserves. Article 3(1) of Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank specifies that, among others, the task of the European System of Central Banks is to conduct foreign exchange operations consistent with the provisions of Article 109 of the Treaty. The Treaty does not make provision for the use of the reserve áfor non-conventional purposes. í (2000/C 303 E/085) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2707/99 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Fisheries: Fleet size and MAGPs Can the Commission provide a comparative analysis of the methods used to calculate fleet size and fulfilment of MAGPs in different Member States? C 303 E/94 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (27 January 2000) The multi-annual guidance programmes for the fishing fleets of all Member States fix capacity targets in tonnage and engine power measured in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 of 22 September 1986 defining the characteristics of fishing vessels (1). Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 was modified by Council Regulation (EC) No 3259/94 (2) and by Com- mission Decision No 95/84/EC (3), which require that the tonnage of fishing vessels be measured in units of gross tonnage (GT) as defined by the London Convention of 1969. All vessels of more than 24 metres length between perpendiculars should already be measured in units of GT. For vessels greater than or equal to 15 metres overall length but less than 24 metres length between perpendiculars, estimates of the GT must be progressively replaced by measures of GT before the end of 2003. For vessels less than 15 metres overall length, the GT is defined by a simplified formula based on the length, breadth and depth of the vessel. Following a call for tenders the Sea fish industry authority in the United Kingdom has been contracted to evaluate the way in which these provisions are applied in each of the Member States. Its final report will be forwarded to the Commission in the first quarter of the year 2000. The way in which engine power is measured is also currently under review. To this end the Commission is consulting with the European committee for standardisation to determine possible courses of action. This is now considered to be a priority for the Community and may result in a further modification to Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86. (1) OJ L 274, 25. 9. 1986. (2) OJ L 339, 29. 12. 1994. (3) OJ L 67, 25. 3. 1995. (2000/C 303 E/086) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2708/99 by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Objective 2 areas in Spain During October and November the Commission approved the lists of Objective 2 areas for the period 2000-2006. However, the lists of 10 Member States have still not been approved. At what stage of the process is Spainís list of Objective 2 areas? Did the Spanish government submit the list by the deadline? If not, what was the cause of the delay? Given that the current regulation expires at the end of 1999, what action will the Commission, and those Member States whose lists have not yet been approved, take to ensure that existing programmes continue to run and new projects can be set up as from 1 January 2000? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (24 February 2000) On 1 July 1999 the Commission invited the Member States to send in their proposed list of areas eligible for Objective 2 in the 2000-2006 programming period before 31 August 1999. For those Member States which had proposed a list of eligible areas by early September 1999, an initial decision was taken in October and November 1999 in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1). The Commission only received the Spanish proposal on 15 September 1999. Following consultation with the Spanish authorities, the Commission took a decision in principle on the draft list of areas eligible for