Brussels, 07/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission decided to open infringement proceedings against Ireland and Italy, accused of having failed in their obligations concerning the reduction of over-capacity in their fishing fleets, and against France concerning rules for offloading scallops. The Commission also opened proceedings against the Netherlands, for non-compliance with the MAGP objectives in relation to the reduction of fishing capacities. Proceedings against Ireland concern infringements to the EU rules on granting licenses and the registration of fishing vessels. We give below details of the infringement proceedings:
- Ireland: The Commission pointed out that it was preparing to send two letters of formal notice to Ireland. One concerns the violation of certain intermediary objectives set for the Irish fleet by the programme to reduce the Community fishing fleet capacity (MAGP IV) over the period 1997 to 2001. We note that the fleets are subdivided into several groups or segments for which aims have been set in the aim of adjusting fishing capacity to the available fish resources. In the case of the pelagic trawl and purse seine segment, the intermediate objectives in engine power were set at 29,039kW by 31 December 2000. However, on this date, the actual power stood at 37,361kW, an overcapacity of 8,322kW. The second procedure relates to Ireland's failure to fulfil its obligations to notify the Commission with regard to the characteristics of EU fishing vessels. The vessels concerned is the "Atlantic Dawn", a 140-metre pelagic vessel flaying the Irish flag and for which Ireland has not sent the required information to the Commission. Consequently, this vessel is not registered in the EU register of fishing vessels.
- Italy: Infringement concerns failure to meet its MAGP intermediate objectives for the overall fleet, the under 12-metre segment, the coastal bottom trawlers, the coastal multi-purpose vessels and the deep sea trawlers.
- France: The Commission received a complaint from the owner of a vessel flying the French flag and fishing for scallops in the territorial waters of Jersey. The vessel was prevented from landing its catches of scallops on the basis of a French Order banning such landings from 15 May to 30 September. The Commission considers that the Order may constitute an infringement to the principle of free movement of goods when applied to a vessel operating in the territorial waters of a Member State other than those of France.
- The Netherlands: A letter of formal notice was sent to the Netherlands last July for failure to comply with the MAGP objectives in relation to the Dutch pelagic trawlers. While the objectives for this segment on 31 December 2000 were set at 48,790 GT and 62,475 kW, the actual tonnage was 93,066 GT and 91,497 kW respectively. This represented an overcapacity of 44,276 GT in tonnage and 29,022 kW in engine power.
