WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/99 by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Fisheries policy of the European Commission in the next Millennium Round.
C 280 E/10 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 In general, the responsibility for resolving the Y2K problem within the Community as a whole lies with the individual enterprises and organisations concerned, whose progress is monitored by Member State authorities. Nevertheless, in recognition of the need for co-ordination between countries in critical services with a cross-border aspect, such as finance, telecommunications, energy, and transport, the Commission has carried out several activities. Firstly, workshops involving Community industry and public authorities have been taking place since 1997. In particular, two large workshops with infrastructure providers from all major sectors throughout the Community were organised in April 1999 and September 1999 to examine cross-border issues, especially contingency planning. The results of these workshops are posted on the Commissionís special Y2K website at http://www. ispo. cec. be/y2keuro/y2k. htm. Secondly, since July 1999, the national Y2K co-ordinators in the Community and European economic area (EEA) countries have met on a monthly basis to share information and exchange ideas on how to address various issues associated with the problem. Specific attention has been paid to the co-ordination of contingency plans between Member States. Finally, the Commission has recently published communications (1) which provide an overview of the evolution of the situation of critical infrastructure sectors in the Community in the first, second and third quarters of 1999. (1) COM(99) 545 final COM(99) 639 final COM(99) 651 final. (2000/C 280 E/009) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/99 by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Fisheries policy of the European Commission in the next Millennium Round What is the policy of the European Commission in the next Millennium Round regarding the Common Fisheries Policy? Having in mind that some of the contracting parties of the WTO and some NGOs criticise the Common Fisheries Policy, has the Commission planned a negotiating strategy to counterbalance this criticism? Is the Commission ready to stand and follow a strategy that points out the positive effects that the Common Fisheries Policy has in the management of the fisheries stocks and in the contribution of the economic development of some developing countries? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (11 January 2000) Notwithstanding the unsuccessful outcome of the Third WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle as regards timing and subjects for negotiation, the Commission has performed preparatory work on a possible Community negotiating strategy for further trade liberalisation. In its communication on The EU approach to the WTO Millennium Round (1)í the Commission set out a possible Community agenda for the round, which should among other things include further liberalisation or rule-making in the fields of agriculture and services, non-agricultural tariffs, investment, competition, trade facilitation, and trade and environment. Results in all areas should support and contribute to sustainable development. This comprehensive programme was endorsed by the Council in its conclusions of 25 October 1999. 3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/11 the current uncertainty about the the Commission believes that the adjourned round, In spite of negotiations should cover several subjects that relate to fisheries, including tariffs, subsidies, services, investment and trade and environment. Rather than isolate discussions on fisheries, however, it is in the Community interest to deal with fisheries in the context of the negotiations of all non-agricultural products, regarding market access and other negotiating areas as appropriate. The Community believes that the Millennium Round should provide the opportunity to integrate considerations of environmental protection and sustainable utilisation of resources into all aspects of World trade organisation (WTO) negotiations, including fisheries. To ensure that the WTO contributes positively to the pursuit of sustainable development world-wide, the Community is proposing that WTO members should take the decision to enter into a commitment to ensure duty-free market access no later than the end of the new round for essentially all products exported by the least-developed countriesí (2). This will also apply to fishery products. (1) COM(99) 331 final. (2) Paragraph 10 of the Council conclusions of 25 October 1999 on the Preparation of the Third WTO Ministerial Conferenceí. (2000/C 280 E/010) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2156/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Utilisation of structural funds by the Latium Regional Council Following the reform of the Structural Funds, it would be useful for regional councils in Italy ü in particular the Latium Regional Council ü to reorganise their affairs (inter alia taking the lead from examples of good practice identified in other Member States) so as to make it easier for local companies to gain access to such funding. Over recent years a low rate of utilisation of Community funds has been recorded in the Latium region. Given the above, would the Commission state: 1. whether it can supply details of the utilisation of structural funds to date by the Latium Regional Council, including the uses to which they have been put, in respect of Objectives 2, 3, 4 and 5b; 2. whether there are any studies or documents highlighting examples of good practice in the utilisation of structural funds in other Member States; 3. its general opinion of the utilisation of structural funds in Italy (in particular, in the Latium region), inter alia with reference to the situation in other Member States. Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (24 January 2000) According to the latest information available from the Italian authorities, the state of play regarding 1. the implementation of programmes in the Lazio region is as follows (figures at 30 June 1999) (1). Commitments Payments (%) Objective 2 1994-1996 100 Objective 2 1997-1999 Objective 3 1994-1999 Objective 4 1994-1999 Objective 5b 1994-1999 (1) Figures at 31 October 1999. 36 88 91 85 86 4 (1) 58 30 43