Brussels, 02/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Thursday 2 September, Alain Cadec MEP (EPP, France) calls for penalties for non-compliance with European regulations to be harmonised. This came in the wake of a heavy penalty imposed at the end of July on a French trawler from Brittany, inspected off the English coast, for failure to abide by the regulatory mesh size.
“Although sanctions are necessary for non-compliance with EU regulations in order to safeguard stocks, they must be equitable and of the same kind whatever states are concerned. Unfortunately, yet again, this is a case of double standards. Application of the regulations differs depending on the national judicial authorities - which is, of course, unacceptable”, Alain Cadec said. In the case of the Breton vessel, the penalty is felt to be “totally disproportionate” with the fault committed. “Only the setting in place of a European scale will make it possible for fishermen to be treated on an equal footing”, Cadec said. On several occasions, the European Commission has already suggested harmonising sanctions, but it has never been possible to reach an agreement on this point within the Council, above all due to a number of national prerogatives when it comes to determining penal sanctions. (L.C./transl.jl)