The NGO Oceana announced on Monday, 1 April, that it was leaving the Mediterranean Advisory Council (MedAC) due to non-compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Recent events in this Advisory Council "have made it clear to Oceana that efforts to improve Mediterranean governance and ensure the implementation of the CFP through this body have proven futile”, declared Oceana. As “there are no indications that the situation could improve in the near future either", Oceana will cease all involvement within this body and withdraw its membership.
The reasons given are: - repeated disregard for the Rules of Procedure to which all the members are bound; - a lack of external scrutiny on performance and mechanisms to prevent and deter any wrongdoing by any of the elected positions or by the Secretariat; - a disregard for the legally binding principles outlined in the Common Fisheries Policy; - misuse of publicly financed Secretariat for supporting industry representatives against the adoption of the EU Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan (MAP).
Oceana had already shown evidence that the Mediterranean Advisory Council aligned with a portion of the Italian fishing industry “to lobby MEPs and postpone the vote” on this multiannual plan (see EUROPE 12155/17).
On 4 April, the European Parliament will adopt the compromise between institutions on this plan, which was heavily criticised by Oceana (see EUROPE 12197/11). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)