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| 31.3.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 106/10 |

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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 as regards the introduction of capacity limits for Eastern Baltic cod, data collection and control measures in the Baltic Sea, and Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 as regards permanent cessation for fleets fishing for Eastern Baltic cod’

(COM(2019) 564 — 2019/0246 (COD))

(2020/C 106/02)

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| Rapporteur-general: | Gerardo LARGHI |

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| Referral | European Parliament, 13.11.2019 Council, 18.11.2019 |
| Legal basis | Articles 43(2) and 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |
| Section responsible | Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment |
| Adopted in plenary | 23.01.2020 |
| Plenary session No | 549 |
| Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) | 112/0/1 |

1.   Conclusions and recommendations

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| | 1.1. | The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomes the Commission’s proposal for urgent action to support the Eastern Baltic cod fisheries sector, but considers that by itself this will not be enough to meet the needs of the region and its inhabitants. |

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| | 1.2. | The EESC emphasises that the decision not to allow cod fishing will result in the collapse of a significant part of the sea fishing activities in some Member States, which will result not only in unemployed fishers but also have adverse negative effects on small-scale fish processing, on direct sales and on the tourism sector. In order to guarantee the availability of fresh fish to consumers, sustainable aquaculture in offshore farms employing local fishers should be encouraged. |

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| | 1.3. | The EESC considers that reducing fish quotas alone is not a solution to the crisis situation in the Baltic Sea, but that a comprehensive plan needs to be developed to give the sector, employers, workers and consumers a future. |

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| | 1.4. | The EESC notes the Commission’s decision to give the Member States the necessary tools to scrap fleets of vessels which currently fish cod, and to leave it up to the Member States to determine the tonnage and number of vessels to be scrapped. |

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| | 1.5. | The EESC stresses the negative consequences of scrapping these fleets and considers that adherence to the plan should be purely voluntary. |

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| | 1.6. | The EESC points out that the Court of Auditors has stressed that funds destined for this purpose have often not been used properly and have not always generated the expected result. The Committee calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt measures to avoid this happening in this case as well. |

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| | 1.7. | The EESC considers that if the Commission and the Member States had acted in time, a more gradual approach could have been taken to the issue. |

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| | 1.8. | The EESC urges Member States with powers to lay down the rules for the allocation of financial compensation for scrapping fishing vessels to take due account of the sector’s skilled workers who would be left without a source of income. |

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| | 1.9. | The EESC calls on the Member States to use the ESF funds to implement retraining programmes for workers currently employed in the sector. |

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| | 1.10. | Since scientific research has shown that current cod mortality is due to environmental factors rather than fishing, the EESC calls on the Commission to give priority to any steps that can help improve the Baltic Sea ecosystem. |

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| | 1.11. | The EESC strongly encourages the European Commission to explore the possibility of having dedicated funding for cross-regional action based on the Blue Bio-economy principles. A number of existing projects have already proven that certain new economic activities can significantly contribute to positive environmental results in the Baltic Sea. Mussel and seaweed farming should be promoted, as they are very efficient nutrient filters. Activities of this kind also help to bring biodiversity, including fish stocks, back to the seashore. The EESC argues that the existing fleet and fishers could be used to realise this potential, as they have both adaptable equipment and skills. The dedicated regional financial program from the EU and Member States themselves is a must. |

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| | 1.12. | The EESC emphasises that by forbidding conversion to leisure and tourist fishing, the proposal shuts off a practical employment and business solution for operators. |

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| | 1.13. | The EESC considers it important that the Commission avoids the ban on Member States fishing cod placing operators from other, non-EU countries at an advantage. |

2.   General comments

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| | 2.1. | The deterioration of the Baltic Sea ecosystem has been a well-known fact for years. Now, the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters whose mortality from environmental factors is three times higher than fishing mortality. Moreover, no significant changes are expected before 2024, even with no fishing at all. |

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| | 2.2. | The EESC considers it essential for a comprehensive analysis to be carried out of the situation of the Baltic Sea fisheries sector and the problem of the marine environment, which is in crisis owing to a wide array of factors, including, notably, in addition to pollution from the rivers flowing into it, the fact that it is crossed by cruise ships which do not always respect water recycling standards. |

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| | 2.3. | The EESC acknowledges that a significant part of the pollution still comes from industries and wastewater treatment plants. The EESC urges the European Commission to demand a more active implementation of the Environmental Crime Directive by Member States and a proper prosecution of the big polluters. In case of financial fines payed by polluters, the EESC encourages Member States to direct that income into environmental programmes. |

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| | 2.4. | The EESC believes that there is an urgent need to bring all the sector’s stakeholders together and draw up a consensual action plan together with them. Public-private partnerships may be part of the solution. |

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| | 2.5. | The possibility of an agreement to employ foreign fishers and promote the Blue Bio-economy principles in the neighbouring territory of the Russian Federation should also be explored. Cooperation must not be restricted to seeking convergent solutions regarding fishing, but should also develop and implement measures aimed at radically and durably resolving the environmental problems that threaten the balance of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. |

Brussels, 23 January 2020.

The President of the European Economic and Social Committee

Luca JAHIER

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