Brussels, 21/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - In his response to the questionnaire from the EP Committee on Fisheries before his hearing scheduled for 5 October, the Commissioner-designate for fisheries and maritime affairs, Joe Borg, wrote that his main objective within the Barroso Commission would be to "achieve sustainable fishing by putting in place long-term measures for the management of fish stocks, with reinforced control and enforcement framework in which the new Fisheries Control Agency should play a key role". Mr Borg also undertakes to contribute to the success of the new "Regional Advisory Councils", provide structural support to help the fisheries sector adapt to the new challenges, and ensure the development of small coastal communities.
Mr Borg gives his assurance that the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) systems and quotas will "remain the main management tool for the foreseeable future" but that the European Commission hopes to initiate debate with the other Community institutions and the parties concerned on the possibilities of setting in place different or complementary management mechanisms. The Commissioner-designate of Maltese nationality mainly cites the setting in place of transferable fishing rights or the broader use of direct effort management. As far as surveillance and control is concerned, Mr Borg announces that he will make proposals on the Vessel Detection Systems (VDS) and electronic logbooks. He explains that the new detection system will not require the installation of black boxes on vessels. Furthermore, he trusts the Fisheries Control Agency (to be located in Vigo, Spain) may "begin its work early in 2006".
Challenge of setting EU maritime policy in place
Mr Borg will also be responsible for a policy that remains to be defined, namely that of maritime affairs. He explains that the responsibility of maritime transport and maritime safety will naturally continue to come under the competence of the Transport Commissioner and that Mr Barroso has asked him to conduct the work of a Task Force responsible for drafting a Green Paper on the Union's maritime policy. The Commissioner-designate specifies that work has already been carried out to this end by various services of the DGs on the environment, transport, energy, research, regional policy and enterprise. He adds that the EU must also continue to closely follow questions relating to the Law of the Sea. "One of the key challenges in developing a maritime policy will be to develop and use new modes of governance for a policy that cuts across many different sectors. All countries that have developed a Maritime Policy have recognised this challenge and attempted to address it as a matter of priority", Mr Borg affirmed.