91998E0497

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0497/98 by Carmen Fraga Estévez (PPE) to the Commission (2 March 1998)

Subject: EU-ACP fisheries trade balance

It is of vital interest to the European Union to promote the development of fisheries in the ACP countries, including a greater flow of exports from these countries to the EU.

Will the Commission provide information on the trade balance for fisheries products between the EU and the ACP countries in terms of both volume and value, including:

- fishery exports from each ACP country to each Member State;

- a breakdown by species of exports from each ACP country to each Member State;

- fishery imports by each ACP country with details of each exporter Member State;

- breakdown by species of imports by each ACP country and details of the Member State of origin?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (6 April 1998)

The Community has a very unfavourable balance of trade in fisheries products with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. In 1996, Community exports to the ACP states amounted to 331 000 tonnes and were worth ECU 185 million, while imports from them amounted to 378 000 tonnes, worth ECU 1 093 million. Community exports of fisheries products to the ACP states thus represent only 17% of imports in value terms.

Because of the amount of information involved, the Commission will send the Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat a summary table of the information requested.