Brussels, 06/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - In passing the report by Estelle Grelier by 622 votes to 40, with 21 abstentions, the European Parliament (EP), on Wednesday 6 April, approved the regulation which aims to extend the technical measures currently in place in fisheries until 1 January 2013. Adoption of the text, which has still to be approved by the Council, would avoid a legal void from June of this year, when the current regulation on technical measures in fishing activities is due to expire.
Only one amendment to the initial proposal was tabled, specifying the size of the nets to be used for catching boarfish. Most of the MEPs who spoke in the debate the previous day called on the Commission to bring forward a new proposal while the CFP (common fisheries policy) was being reformed, and not once the process was over. For the moment, Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki is looking to present proposals on technical measures in 2013, that is, after the reform of the CFP. She did undertake, however, to do her best to accelerate the procedure for a new regulation and also for the implementation of the basic regulation for the reform in order to give member states some powers on technical measures.
Technical measures are governed by an old regulation which has already been extended until 30 June 2011, as agreement could not be found with the Council on the new proposal brought forward by the Commission in 2008. (L.C./transl.rt)