Adverse impact of the Brexit agreement on Dutch shipyards

Question for written answer  E-002028/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Tom Berendsen (PPE), Annie Schreijer-Pierik (PPE)

Since Brexit, Dutch shipyards have experienced a decline in orders as, under EU law, UK fishing vessels are not permitted to enter many of the ports concerned. A list[1] of European ports open to UK fishing vessels does not include a number of Dutch ports, such as Stellendam, Den Helder and Urk. Consequently, UK fishing vessels do not have access to these ports or their shipyards, resulting in the deferment and/or cancelled of many orders[2]. Although the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has now made arrangements to grant UK vessels access to shipyards[3], they have to pay high costs linked to the requirement to carry out additional checks[4]. This is making Dutch shipyards less competitive. The situation of these shipyards remains precarious, as the relevant EU legal provisions have not yet been revised.

• 1.How does the Commission intend to revise the EU legal provisions concerned in order to open up Dutch shipyards to UK vessels once again, to maintain a level playing field and to curb the adverse impact, such as additional costs, of the Brexit agreement?
• 2.What is the Commission’s timetable for completing these revisions?
• 3.How does the Commission intend to mitigate the adverse impact on the Dutch shipyards concerned, and is it thinking of drawing on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to compensate the shipyards?

• [1] List of ports in EU Member States where landings and transhipment operations of fishery products are allowed and port services are accessible for third country fishing vessels, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 2020/C 51/05 - Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
• [2] As mentioned in recent reports: ‘Stellendam “forgotten” on Brexit list, shipyards lose many orders’ - Rijnmond, 7 April 2021
• [3] Due to these ports being designated as ‘maintenance ports’, as mentioned in recent reports: ‘British ships welcome again at “forgotten” shipyards’, NOS, 7 April 2021
• [4] Inspection carried out by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)