Brussels, 14/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 July, members of the European Parliament's fisheries committee gave a mixed response to the proposals for reforming the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (EUROPE 10418). Criticism crystallised on the issue of transferable quotas (despite the positive opinion given by Spanish members of the EPP). The end to discards and regionalisation of decisions on measures received quite a positive response.
“It appears that we're on the right track”, said Antonello Antinoro (EPP Italy) on behalf of his group. He considered that the Commission's ideas on regionalisation (allowing the member states more of a free hand) should be able to work. He said, however, that the thing that was worrying him was “the possibility of transferring fishing quotas, 'concessions'”. He believes that it is necessary to put a cap on the number of concessions. Without a cap, he warned that “we are in danger of creating a monopoly situation regarding rights, which would be controlled by just a few companies”. Ulrike Rodust (S&D, Germany) said that the proposals were “an excellent starting point”. She said that the EP had to develop a counterweight to selfish positions put forward by member states and which thought that MEPs were “puppets” controlled by the national governments. She welcomed the proposals on: increasing the multiannual management plans; the ban on discards; and the suspension of EU funds to those that breach the rules. She had mixed feelings about quota transfers. “We do not agree to the sale and buyback of quotas”, explained Pat the Cope Gallagher (ALDE, Ireland). Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA, Sweden) supported the proposal on the end to discards and the respect, in 2015, of fish stock management being based on the Maximum Sustainable Yield principle (MSY). João Ferreira (GUE/NGL, Portugal) criticised the idea of transferable quotas and warned that “there's nothing to prevent these rights being monopolised”. (L.C./transl.fl)