92001E0024

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0024/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Suspension of customs tariffs on tuna loin

Last year the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal on the common organisation of the market in the fisheries sector in which it advocated suspending the customs tariffs on tuna loin. This proposal was opposed by the Community's tuna loin producing sector, as well as by certain Member States, with the result that the Council reached agreement on the basis of the views set out in an independent report

commissioned by the Commission, which noted that the market was adequately supplied and that the shortfall could be estimated at 4 000 tonnes. The Commission has never explained why it placed at risk a whole fishing and industrial sector, which had always followed the approach until then favoured by the Community of seeking to boost integration, by tabling such a damaging proposal as the suspension of custom tariffs on tuna loin.

Will the Commission explain what its real motives were in tabling this proposal and what interests it was seeking to defend?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

The Commission has already given some indications on the factors leading it to submit the proposal concerned in its answer to the Honourable Member's Written Question E-0756/00(1).

The increasing demand for loin has been partly met by a steady increase in imports from non-member countries. The Commission deduces from this fact that the major trend on the Community market for fishery products towards increasing dependence on non-member countries for supplies of raw materials is also occurring on the tuna market.

The study also confirms that the Community firms using tuna loin as a raw material for producing preserves are thereby improving their competitiveness both inside the Community and on the international market. The study vindicates the Commission's opinion that this improved competitiveness is all the more necessary given that certain tuna-canning firms in the Community will have to carry out structural adjustments if they are to secure any long-term viability.

Lastly, the Commission is aware of a real supply deficit which, although limited, can have a seasonal impact on the Community market in this product.

In 2000, as in previous years, the Commission submitted proposals to open restricted quotas for tuna loin, and the Council adopted them, thereby opening the quotas.

As far as the medium term is concerned, the Council and the Commission made a joint statement on 17 December 1999, to the effect that a multiannual quota of 4 000 tonnes at 6 % duty would be opened for 2001-2003. This quota will allow the Community tuna-canning industry to cope with the supply deficit mentioned above. For those Community firms which must carry out structural adjustments, it will also ease the transition to greater competitiveness on the Community and international markets.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001.