Brussels, 24/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament fisheries committee is concerned at the number of hats that Maltese commissioner designate Karmenu Vella, 64, would have to wear were he to be confirmed in the dual environment and fisheries and maritime affairs portfolio in the Juncker Commission, and fears that fishing may end up suffering.
“He'll be the environment commissioner and the fisheries commissioner and that is something that could cause some problems”, stated Alain Cadec, the chair of the Parliament fisheries committee, at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday 23 September. The members of the committee intend to raise this issue at Vella's hearing which is scheduled to take place at 2.30pm on Monday 29 September (see EUROPE 11157 for a pen portrait of Vella). Responding to a question from EUROPE, Cadec said that there must not be any muddying of the waters. “The environmental dimension of the common fisheries policy is clear for all to see but the economic and social and the territorial management dimensions must absolutely not be forgotten. We will tell him this once again at the hearing to make sure that there is no confusion between environment and fishing;” Cadec, who has already held discussions with the commissioner designate, is keen to hear how Vella responds at his hearing. He is somewhat reassured, however, that there will be two directorates (DG ENVI and DG MARE) which will continue to operate separately, under the supervision of Commissioner Jyrki Katainen.
CFP reform. The commissioner designate will be asked about the way in which he intends to implement the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP). “We believe that fishing has a rightful place in blue growth and we want him to tell us about his vision for things in this context”, said Cadec. One of the most urgent issues on the new commissioner's desk will be implementation of the requirement to land catches (ban on discards), on which Cadec wants to see a phased and realistic approach.
Among other points that will be raised are technical measures, driftnets (which the European Commission is proposing to ban), eco-labelling for fisheries products, fishing in the Mediterranean (the problem of a parallel market in juvenile fish), and the institutional debate with regard to delegated and implementing acts (“We want the Lisbon Treaty to be fully respected”, Cadec says).
Provocation. When asked about driftnets, Cadec said that the proposal was seen by the Parliament fisheries committee as “provocation on the part of Maria Damanaki”. “We hope Mr Vella will hear what the members of the fisheries committee will say to him on this matter.” Tuesday's fisheries committee debate demonstrated that “the proposal was virtually unanimously felt to go too far”. The plenary session vote on deep-water trawling took place in December 2013. The issue will be examined in trialogue so, “under the Lisbon Treaty, what the Commission has to say is not as important as it was beforehand in the process. It's a negotiation between the Parliament and the Council”, said Cadec (our translation throughout). (LC)