Brussels, 16/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - When they meet in Luxembourg on 28 June, EU fisheries ministers could agree a general approach on the proposal on management of external fishing fleets (see EUROPE 11491 and 11509).
The proposal, which dates from 11 December 2015, would bring an overhaul of the system for delivering licences to European Union vessels to fish outside EU waters and to third-country vessels to fish in EU waters. The Council general approach would contain the main elements of the proposal on licences delivered directly to third countries, chartering and the issue of changing flags. The Council position seeks as far as possible to avoid any increase in red tape and complexity of fishing licensing procedures. The proposal also creates a register of fishing licences to better monitor the EU external fleet and to increase transparency on its activities.
Debate in fisheries committee. The European Parliament will adopt its position on the text in November of this year, according to the timetable suggested by the Parliament's fisheries committee. Linnea Engström (Greens/EFA, Sweden), Parliament rapporteur on this issue, gave her backing on Thursday 16 June to a toughening of some of the Commission's provisions. She laid great stress on legal clarity and on the need for scientific assessment to ensure sustainable fishing. She agreed that the provisions in the text on sanctions need to be improved. The chair of the fisheries committee, Alain Cadec (EPP, France), said that work would have to be done to find a “balanced” text to enhance current transparency measures but without bringing further complication for fishermen. He backed the planned provisions on flag changes. Jaroslaw Walesa (EPP, Poland) was somewhat critical of the proposal which he felt could increase the administrative burden. Peter van Dalen (ECR, Netherlands) condemned the great powers granted to the Commission, which would be enabled to withdraw licences, to the detriment of the flag state. Francisco José Millan Mon (EPP/Spain) supported the objectives sought by the text, “but the heavy administrative load” which would result “worries us”. He highlighted, for example, provisions that would lead to “double hardship” for fishermen. The procedures have to be simplified, argued Renata Briano (S&D, Italy). Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE, Spain) was in agreement with the objectives but she called for provisions on sanctions and on fishing licences to be improved. She supported the creation of a fishing licence register but said that the commercial activity of fishermen had to be protected. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)