WRITTEN QUESTION E-1017/00 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transfer of surplus EU fishing vessels to third world countries.
C 46 E/104 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (24 May 2000) Under Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the impact of certain public and private projects on the environment (1), as amended by Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (2), quarries must be made subject to an environmental impact assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 of the Directive in cases where the surface of the site exceeds 25 hectares. Other quarries must be made subject to an impact assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 where Member States consider that their characteristics so require. Under Article 6 (3) of Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (3), any project not necessary to the management of a site but likely to have a significant effect thereon must be appropriately assessed in view of the siteís conservation objectives. In order to form an estimate of the situation, the Commission has asked the Portuguese authorities to provide information on the project in question. The Commission will also draw their attention to the obligations deriving from the abovementioned provisions of Community law. The project is not being cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund. (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985. (2) OJ L 73, 14. 3. 1997. (3) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992. (2001/C 46 E/109) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1017/00 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 April 2000) Subject: Transfer of surplus EU fishing vessels to third world countries How does the Commission view the current practice of transferring surplus fishing vessels from EU Member States to Third World countries, given that this seriously endangers current fish stocks as well as existing small-scale fisheries ventures in those countries? To date, the Commission has spent € 30 million on redeploying surplus fishing vessels. Since EU fish stocks are seriously over exploited because of the over-efficiency of the EU fleet, it surely cannot be sensible policy to impose the same threat on countries that depend to an even greater extent on the sustainability of their fish stocks? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 May 2000) The Commission recognises that the transfer of fishing capacity from Member States to third world countries should be mutually beneficial and should not endanger the fish stocks or the existing small scale fisheries in those countries. For this reason, financial aid for the transfer of capacity to third countries can be granted only under the conditions specified in Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC)No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (1). Financial aid can be granted only with the agreement of the competent authorities of the third country concerned and if there exist appropriate guarantees that international law is not likely to be infringed, in particular with respect to the conservation and management of marine resources and with respect to working conditions of fishermen. The Commission considers that, provided these conditions are met, the transfer of fishing vessels and the creation of joint enterprises can be beneficial for the development of the fishing industry in third world countries. (1) OJ L 337, 30. 12. 1999