On Tuesday 3 June, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on tighter rules to tackle non-sustainable fishing practices allowed by third countries on stocks of common interest (see EUROPE 13543/6).
Under current rules, once a country has been identified as allowing non-sustainable fishing practices, the EU can impose restrictions, such as import bans.
Under the compromise text, third countries will know more clearly under what circumstances their actions could lead the EU to impose sanctions against them.
The regulation clarifies the notion of ‘failure to cooperate’ and provides a list of examples of non-cooperative behaviour. Such examples include refusing to consult or to involve all the relevant countries in the consultations.
The text also clarifies that a country can be considered as allowing non-sustainable fishing if, while failing to cooperate, it does not adopt, implement or enforce the necessary measures, including control measures.
In addition, under the leadership of the European Parliament rapporteur Thomas Bajada (S&D, Maltese), the new rules specify that if a third country imposes quotas or discriminatory measures without due regard to the rights, interests and duties of other countries and the EU, and which lead to the stock being in an unsustainable state, the regulation can be applied.
The provisional agreement must now be confirmed by the two institutions before it can be formally adopted. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)