Brussels, 12/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament (EP) fisheries committee, on Wednesday 11 July, unanimously approved the deal reached with the EU Council of Ministers on sanctions that could be imposed on third countries that engage in overfishing. The agreement empowers the Commission to ban the import of fish into the EU from overfished stocks and related species.
The committee, indeed, toughened the sanctions the Commission will be able to apply, while fully complying with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. The definition of “associated species” will be made broader than that originally proposed by the Commission in December 2011 (see EUROPE 10517). Furthermore, if these sanctions prove ineffective, the Commission may adopt additional measures such as restricting the use of EU ports by vessels flying the flag of a non-compliant country or by vessels carrying fish from the overfished stock to the EU.
The countries concerned will be given one month to take corrective measures before the sanctions are enforced. The sanctions will be preceded by an evaluation of their possible environmental, trade, economic and social impacts.
Rapporteur Pat the Cope Gallagher (ALDE, Ireland) strongly believes that the agreed text “will deliver both workable and effective trade sanctions, which will act as a real deterrent to countries who engage in unsustainable fishing practices now and in the future”. He said he was still hopeful that the measures may never be used against Iceland and the Faroe Islands and called on all four coastal states involved in the “mackerel war” to immediately resume talks with a view to resolving this long running dispute.
The EP is expected to approve the agreement in a plenary session vote scheduled for September. EU ministers will then have to endorse the decision. (EL/transl.rt)