On Monday 22 June, European fisheries ministers in Luxembourg asked the European Commission to amend certain regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in order to facilitate fleet modernisation and correct certain measures, notably the rules relating to the landing obligation.
This discussion followed the evaluation of the CFP presented by the European Commission, as well as the ministers’ debate that had already been held in May at an informal meeting in Cyprus (see EUROPE 13862/13).
Spanish minister Luis Planas stressed the need to complement the environmental success of the CFP with economic and social success. For Spain, profitability must become a guiding principle of the future CFP, on the same footing as conservation of resources. He criticised certain current regulations that he deemed obsolete, which are holding back fleet modernisation and the energy transition. He notably questioned the traditional concepts of tonnage and engine power and called for their revision, including within the simplification package.
Several Member States, including Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, denounced a framework that has become too complex and difficult to implement.
Several delegations, including France, Denmark and Finland, stressed the need to strengthen the ecosystem approach and to better integrate the effects of climate change, pollution and external pressures on fish stocks.
Finland and Sweden also called for the role of predators to be better taken into account. Poland called for a revision of the management plan for the Baltic region.
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis acknowledged the need to reflect on “better support for fleet modernisation and the energy transition”, generational renewal and small-scale fisheries.
Several ministers also called for the development of multiannual total allowable catches. These are already in place for around half of the EU-managed Atlantic stocks, the Commissioner noted, indicating that their extension would be examined.
“Of course, not everything requires legislative change, nor can every challenge be solved by amending legislation. Much can be achieved within the existing framework”, Mr Kadis concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)