Strasbourg, 29/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a report in Strasbourg on 14 December by British Labour MEP Catherine Stihler, the European Parliament slightly amended the planned funding for the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for 2007-2013. The proposal foresees a budget of EUR 2.6 bn for the seven year period. It adds to the draft unveiled in July 2004 on the new European Fisheries Fund (see EUROPE 8922). The financial measures cover inspections, data collection, enhancing scientific advice, governance and international relations.
The amendments tabled by the European Parliament aim to extend data collection obligations under the fisheries section of the Natura 2000 marine sites management. The EP says data collection could include assessing the introduction of more selective fishing vessels to ensure fishing contributes towards rational and sustainable use of marine sites. There are new measures to carry out environmental impact studies (under the CFP, these currently only cover fish farms).
The EP has tabled measures to ensure Regional Advisory Councils (set up to enable the industry to be more involved in drawing up CFP rules) to receive funding beyond the five-year start-up phase (see EUROPE 8711 on Member States' agreement to set up RACs). The initial five-year start-up funding is divided up as follows: EUR 200,000 in the first year, EUR 165,000 in the second, EUR 132,000 in the third, EUR 121,000 in the fourth and EUR 110,000 in the fifth. The RACs were intended to be financially independent after the five year start-up period, but the EP is calling for EU funding to cover the cost of commissioning scientific advice.
The MEPs regret that international relations and maritime law get the lion's share of the allocated budget, with almost 60% of the total budget going to international fisheries agreements. The MEPs want international intervention to boost the fisheries resource management and control capacities of non-EU Member States, including the satellite Vessel Monitoring System to combat unauthorised fishing.
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