On Thursday 18 June, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (EPP, Spanish), welcomed the European Commission’s announcement concerning the preparation of a package to simplify the rules under the common fisheries policy (CFP).
“The fisheries sector has been calling for a reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens for many years. I therefore welcome the Commission’s commitment to move forward with a dedicated simplification package for fisheries and aquaculture”, Carmen Crespo Díaz said, referring to the statement by Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis in a plenary sitting of the European Parliament on Tuesday 16 June, during a debate on reducing the reporting burden for European businesses.
In reply to a question on small-scale fisheries, he said that the European Commission was working on a “simplification package in the field of fisheries”. Moreover, the European Commission is carrying out a “stress test” of the entire body of European Union law, the Commissioner noted.
According to Ms Crespo Díaz, simplification should make legislation more effective, more proportionate and better adapted to the operational realities faced by fishermen, aquaculture producers and coastal communities.
The Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries believes that the future package should address the key areas for improvement identified by stakeholders and policymakers. She is calling on the European Commission to present concrete legislative proposals without delay and is emphasising the importance of quickly launching the ordinary legislative procedure after the presentation of the mooted package.
Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, had confirmed at the beginning of June that the Commission “is continuing simplification initiatives” (see EUROPE 13863/1). A call for evidence has been launched with regard to the multiannual stock management plans, “with the aim of facilitating their implementation, improving legal clarity and addressing the challenges identified”. Mr Kadis acknowledged that the evaluation of the CFP showed that the landing obligation (putting an end to discards of fish at sea), as designed in 2013, “has unfortunately not led to any significant change in fisheries practices or in the composition of catches”.
European fisheries ministers will hold a debate in Luxembourg on Monday 22 June on the reform of the CFP. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)