Brussels, 22/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella, for the very first time on Thursday 22 January, showed that his mind was not closed to the call from MEPs that the proposal banning the use of drift gill-nets in two years' time be withdrawn.
At a meeting with the European Parliament fisheries committee, Vella said that the Commission would show willing, and that it understands that a total ban does not seem to be the answer. He suggested, however, that the Parliament should adopt an official position on this text before deciding the next step. Parliament is looking for the proposal to be withdrawn and be replaced with a new one.
In defence of the previous Commission, Vella said that it had not been in possession of all the information when it drafted the initial proposal. He said that, if MEPs were saying that they would prefer the Commission withdraw its proposal in favour of theirs, then he felt that an official Parliament position was needed first. He said he would speak to the Commission services and “if they say they can do it, we'll do it”. He is willing to look at all options, including regional measures (different measures reflecting local conditions).
Technical measures. The European Commission intends to present a proposal “before the end of 2015” updating technical measures “to simplify the rules and bring them into line with the new common fisheries policy”, Vella said.
Management plans. After presentation of the management plan for the Baltic Sea, the Commission will bring forward proposals at the end of the year on certain demersal species in the North Sea and certain pelagic species (anchovy and mackerel). (LC)