On Tuesday 28 April in Strasbourg, the European Parliament came out in favour of strengthening ocean diplomacy as a strategic EU tool for competitiveness, maritime safety and global governance (see EUROPE 13819/12).
In adopting (430 votes in favour, 107 against and 115 abstentions) the own-initiative report by Željana Zovko (EPP, Croatian) on this ocean diplomacy, the European Parliament called for a level playing field to be guaranteed between EU and non-EU fishers, notably through equivalent standards and ‘mirror’ clauses.
Priority must also be given to combating illegal fishing, ‘shadow fleets’ and flags of convenience. The European Parliament also recommends making market access conditional on compliance with environmental, social and traceability standards.
By adopting two amendments tabled by a group of MEPs, the European Parliament is criticising the increase in krill fishing in the Southern Ocean by certain third countries over the last decade. It therefore calls on the Commission to support the introduction of a “five-year moratorium on krill fisheries in the Southern Ocean”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)