92000E0607

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0607/00

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 March 2000)

Subject: EU social and economic protection cover for Malaga's shellfishers

Over five hundred shellfishers have been affected by the Andalusian regional government's decision to close off four fishing grounds in the province of Malaga because the toxicity levels in shellfish caught there makes them unfit for consumption.

This decision is nothing short of a disaster for the working lives of the fishermen, whatever the appropriateness of the measure in health terms.

What provisions does the common fisheries policy make for social and economic cover for workers like the Malaga fishermen, whose working lives have been catastrophically affected by factors entirely outwith their control?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern about the Malaga fishermen affected by closure of the shellfish fishery for health reasons. It points out that under the terms of Article 16 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) Member States may grant compensation to fishermen for temporary cessation of activities under unforeseeable circumstances, in particular cessation for biological reasons.

Such support is additional to that of the general structural measures for fleet adjustment, modernisation and renewal. Each case of restructuring a fleet affected by reduced fishing potential requires approval by the Commission following examination of the proposal in the light of the rules applicable.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.