In the Mediterranean, necessary measures need to be adapted in the short-term. Current rules on access, including relative stability, should be retained. Our future fleet policy must be transparent, manageable and easier to enforce. One way could be through the establishment of a network of Regional Advisory Committees based on transparency, non-discrimination and compatibility with the EU institutional framework. Some management responsibilities could be decentralised to permit the setting up of regional conservation measures on a non-discriminatory basis and without infringing the Commission's right of initiative.
Scientific advice needs to be better integrated into decision-making.
Public aid to the fishing industry must be reassessed. As a main player in world fisheries, the EU needs to promote sustainable fisheries beyond its waters. We need to strengthen international co-operation, increase support for Regional Fisheries Organisations and step up the fight against illegal fisheries. The CFP should be meshed more closely with our Development and Environment policies. A normative framework for Agreements with Northern and Baltic countries could be set up.