92002E2124

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2124/02

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Future of fisheries-dependent communities

The European Court of Justice has clearly reinforced the principle of relative stability based on the original text of Council Regulation (EEC) No 170/83(1) as a principle which is intended to ensure for each Member State a share of the Community's TACs, determined essentially on the basis of the catches from which traditional fishing activities and the local inhabitants dependent on fisheries and related industries of that Member State benefited before the quota system was established (see, for example, Case C-4/96).

Adjusting the principle of relative stability, as proposed by the European Commission in its CFP reform proposals, to a principle under which allocations should be based on an average share of catches over the preceding 5 or 10 years and eventually eliminating the principle of relative stability, would be contrary to the very essence of the principle and why it was established and has been consistently reaffirmed. Adjusting and/or eliminating the principle would jeopardise the future of fisheries-dependent communities which depend on their historical fishing rights being protected. Can the Commission therefore provide a clear explanation as to how it will bear responsibility for destroying fragile communities where there is often no alternative employment and, in so doing, undermining or eliminating what is a firmly established fundamental Community principle?

(1) OJ L 24, 27.1.1983, p. 1.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2123/02 and E-2124/02given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 August 2002)

As the Honourable Member rightly stated, the principle of relative stability has been referred to in Community legislation. However, that legislation does not contain the elements necessary to make fully transparent how the principle of relative stability works in practice. The Commission proposes that these elements are laid down in a Regulation by Council, in consultation with Parliament. The Commission is convinced that legal security will be increased in this manner.