15/11/2010

Beyond our shores
What reforms to our fishing agreements outside the EU?

By Carmen Fraga MEP, President of the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament

The European Parliament, as the elected representative of EU citizens, has the duty to expose its own views. This is the main reason the EPP Group organised a second public hearing on the ongoing process of debate about the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) with the European Commission and representatives of the fisheries sector.

Last June, we debated some of the issues core to any reform, such as what the future model of conservation of fisheries resources should be or how to manage the fleet to meet the needs of both small boats and industrial-scale ships. This time, the focus is on the so-called 'external dimension' of the EU fisheries policy - in my view one of the main aspects of this policy, not only in terms of market supply and employment in the EU, but also in terms of its contribution to the economies of many of the developing countries where the EU fleet is present.


The numbers

There are figures to prove this contribution, provided by the European Commission. 60% of fish products for the EU market are imported. Of this, nearly 40% of the catches (in weight) come from EU Member State ships fishing under agreements signed with third countries; and 20% from ships sailing under the European Community flag, fishing in international waters regulated by regional fisheries management organisations. Moreover, the EU’s bilateral fishing agreements with third countries themselves generate 40 000 jobs and provide activity for around 3 000 vessels. The presence of the EU fleet in all these countries has contributed to developing their fisheries sectors and related activities, as well as to generating economic wealth for most of them. The EU's financial contribution for fishing alone represents more than 50% of public resources in some of these countries.

All this together is what we mean when we talk about the 'external dimension' of the Common Fisheries Policy. And it is useful to remember all these elements, because there is a sense of a lack of trust in the activities of the EU fleet, fishing abroad under perfectly legal commercial agreements.


A hearing for all

There are some items in particular that we will want to address during this public hearing. One of them is the implication of the European Parliament in the process of negotiations of agreements with third countries as well as its presence in the joint committees that follow up on their implementation. As the Lisbon Treaty provides that no agreement can be implemented without the consent of our assembly, it seems logical that Parliament's participation, as well as that of the ship-owners and stakeholders involved in the joint committees, is formalised.

Another issue is related to the European Parliament's role as observer in the regional fisheries management organisations in which the EU has representation, such as the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna). The Parliament should be systematically involved in coordination meetings before any decision is taken by the governing bodies of each of the regional fisheries organisations.

It would be a good idea if, during the debate on reform, we can define an inter-institutional agreement that would offer a permanent solution that responds to these needs, as it will ensure that when the Parliament decides on the implementation of an agreement, it is making its decision with all the information available.

There is also a need to tackle the issue of the presence of ship-owners and other stakeholders in the joint committees, if - as is one of the possibilities tabled for reform - they are to increase their private financial contribution to the agreements. Would anyone who is one of the main financial investors understand a situation where they have no representation on the relevant boards?

I hope the opportunity, provided by the EPP Group in organising this public hearing, for representatives of the sector and those who have to make a political decision on the reform of Common Fisheries Policy, due to be ready for 2012, to discuss all of these issues will contribute to clarifying the debate and the main points at stake, as well as to clear the path for the decision-making process.