On Thursday 9 July, the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries concluded that socio-economic factors should be given the same weight as environmental sustainability criteria in implementing the common fisheries policy (CFP). It is therefore calling on the Member States to rely on objective environmental, social and economic criteria when allocating quotas.
The draft report by Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP, Portuguese) on the role of social, economic and environmental standards in the CFP was adopted in Committee by 21 votes in favour, one against and two abstentions.
MEPs are calling on Member States to step up import controls to ensure that all fishery products sold on the European market comply with the current rules. They are calling on the European Commission to present a state of play of the implementation of the CATCH IT system, designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, with particular attention paid to its impact in the outermost regions. This initiative should be promoted to third countries to encourage them to adopt similar control mechanisms.
According to the MEPs, creating a level playing field for the European fisheries and aquaculture sectors requires, in particular, addressing the shortcomings in the sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs) and the trade agreements concluded by the EU. They insist on the need to ensure reciprocal standards, in particular through the introduction of mirror clauses in trade agreements. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)