Brussels, 28/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission adopted a report that is not all that enthusiastic regarding the way Member States implement Community measures applicable under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Commission observes that the existing measures regarding the registration of catches, that were set back in the eighties, were still to being fully implemented in certain countries (France, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Ireland and Sweden). It also happens that countries find themselves unable to define an inspection strategy and that many inspectors do not receive adequate training, notably in Greece, Italy, Finland and Sweden. A certain "relaxed" attitude was detected regarding the communication of infringements to the competent authorities and of the sanctions imposed.
In general, the Commission favours better surveillance of European Union ships sailing outside Community waters, and a clarification of how responsibilities are shared out between the Commission and Member States in terms of monitoring and checking fishing activities in waters which fall under the responsibility of Regional Fisheries Organisations. The lessons from the report will be added to the discussions that are currently taking place on the review of the CFP so that the Commission can draw final conclusions on the future prospects for the Community monitoring system. The Commission is expected to publish, by the end of the year, a Communication on future guidelines in the domain of enforcement of control, monitoring and implementation of CFP measures.
The Commission recognised, however, that countries have made efforts in the following areas: the development of effective control mechanisms for certain types of fisheries; the application of new technologies such as the monitoring of vessels by satellite or the computerised processing of data on catch and fishing activities; and strengthening co-operation among Member States as part of the Commission's three year Action Plan (1998-2000), which is currently being evaluated. The Commission noted that it had awarded EUR 205 million in aid to Member States in 1996/2000 to help reinforce control systems.