A4-0018/99

Resolution on the regionalisation of the Common Fisheries Policy

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 6 November 1997 on the Common Fisheries Policy after the year 2002 ((OJ C 358, 24.11.1997, p. 43.)),

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0018/99),

A. whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 ((OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1.)) establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture, and in particular Article 14(2) thereof, will allow for a limited review of the CFP,

B. whereas regionalisation, understood as decentralisation, of fisheries policy is not in any way the same as renationalisation of fisheries policy,

C. noting that under any management system for fisheries, it is the legitimate responsibility of the Member States and the institutions of the European Union to safeguard the marine environment, ecology, and biodiversity of European waters,

D. noting that the current common fisheries policy already includes large elements of regional variation which could be used more effectively in respect of stock conservation, the support of fishing-dependent communities and the direct involvement of the various interested parties in regional fisheries,

E. whereas the common fisheries policy has, from the beginning, laid particular stress on safeguarding the interests of the coastal regions, as is shown by the 6-12 mile reserved zone and the introduction of the principle of relative stability,

F. whereas the pressure on stocks and the need for significant reform both indicate that fishing activities within that zone should be exclusively under local coastal management and control,

G. whereas there exists an overriding need to enable the way of life of fisheries-dependent communities to thrive in the future through the exercise of fishing and its related activities, and to safeguard the particular needs of these regions,

H. whereas, however, the legislators must ensure that future rules continue to pay particular attention to fisheries-dependent communities,

I. whereas conservation and preservation of stocks remain central to fisheries policy,

J. whereas relative stability is a founding principle of the CFP,

K. whereas the aim of relative stability is to ensure a fair mechanism for the distribution of fisheries resources based on the legal recognition of historical fishing rights,

L. whereas the common fisheries policy, as it is presently constituted, has been unable to fulfil its objectives, particularly in relation to the conservation of fish stocks and the adaptation of the size of the Community fleet to the state of the stocks, given that up till now it has not managed to ensure that all Member States comply with their obligations as regards fleet reduction, with highly negative results for the activity of communities that are especially dependent on fisheries and related activities,

M. whereas the recognition of the socio-economic factors and areas highly dependent on fisheries is essential in the review of the CFP,

N. whereas it is important for fishermen, the organisations representing them and the fishing industry in general to be directly involved in decisions relating to the CFP, along with the other major stakeholders in the fishery,

O. whereas there is an urgent need to bridge the gaps between the science of fisheries management, the fundamental principles of the CFP and the interests of the harvesting sector as the major stakeholder in the fishing industry,

P. whereas, for fishermen to obey the rules, they need to believe, as those who harvest the fish, that the rules will conserve stocks, which will inevitably be more likely if they are involved in the decision-making process, where their experience and input can lead to a more workable and realistic system,

Q. whereas it is essential to undertake greater decentralisation of the CFP, as a first step towards closer involvement of the fisheries industry and the whole fisheries sector in drawing up the necessary rules,

R. whereas regional management units may be regarded as a special form of devolved management,

S. whereas in a decentralised system it is essential that there be a proper balance of representation among the interested parties,

1. Stresses that a new policy of decentralisation of fisheries should have as its primary objectives the conservation of resources for future generations and the enabling of fisheries-dependent communities to continue to fish and prosper from its activities;

2. Recalls that relative stability is a fundamental principle which provides for the goals of the CFP to be realised, whilst taking into account traditional historical interests and ensuring the survival of fisheries-dependent communities;

3. Believes that it is necessary to establish a system which reflects the needs and practical realities of the fishing industry, and one which entails the necessary flexibility to take account of the differences between the various fisheries-dependent areas;

4. Recognises that the lack of cohesion in the regional application of CFP has led to a lack of confidence in the CFP and the Community institutions, and that it is necessary to define the application of the CFP in a clear and consistent manner, setting out a coherent system of decentralisation;

5. Recalls that the Advisory Committee on Fisheries was established to provide a platform from which the fishing industry could express its concerns in the pre-legislative period, as well as on the operation of regulations relating to the CFP; stresses that there remains a growing need to incorporate fishermen and the fishing industry in general into the decision-making process;

6. Proposes that the Advisory Committee be given a strengthened role with a greater emphasis placed on the input from the fishing industry and effective evaluation during the legislative period;

7. Believes that fishermen's support for fisheries regulations will improve by guaranteeing incomes and compensation which are in keeping with the dignity of the profession and by involving fishermen's organisations in the decision-making process, that the fishermen find the regime legitimate, there is more reason to believe that they will follow the rules, and that the involvement of fishermen in installing and enforcing the regulations will make regulations more acceptable; recognises there must be greater confidence in the validity of the system, which means that there must be more transparency and equity in implementing the CFP;

8. Considers, therefore, that there is a need for comprehensive regionalisation of the Common Fisheries Policy which must be properly constituted and implemented;

9. Calls on the Commission to propose that the 12-mile limit be extended to 24 miles in the proposals that it is required to submit by 31 December 2001;

10. Calls on the Commission, in the event of a failure to act by the Council before 1 January 2003, to exercise its powers under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) 3760/92 to ensure the continuation of the 12-mile limit pending agreement in the Council;

11. Recognises that this regionalisation policy must directly involve the fishing industry together with other key stakeholders in the individual regional fisheries;

12. Proposes the creation of a comprehensive series of regional management units, covering the EC¨s regional seas; recognises that a ready-made solution is available through the use of ICES Areas and sub-areas to define the boundary lines;

13. Considers that in order to ensure an appropriate policy of decentralisation it is essential to maintain access to the territorial waters of 12 miles as the exclusive sovereign preserve of the coastal states and to extend this preserve to 24 miles;

14. Believes that the regional management units should be given the greatest possible responsibility and power of decision, consistent with the universal protection of stocks concerning the management policies within each region;

15. Recognises that the Commission must have ultimate responsibility, and powers through the Council, to ensure that all regional management regimes are sufficiently robust to ensure the long-term sustainability of stocks;

16. Considers that the constitution of the regional management units would need to be defined geographically and professionally;

17. Stresses that the regional management units should ensure that fishermen who benefit from regional quotas do land a percentage of their catch in the regions to which the quotas are allocated, and should impose other obligations on fishermen to contribute to the economic well-being of fisheries-dependent areas;

18. Stresses that within the CFP subsidiarity should exist to allow for decision-making at the most appropriate level to guarantee the effective control and management of EU fisheries resources, but should not be used as a tool which allows discrimination between nationals of different Member States, or within Member States; a level playing field should persist;

19. Believes that this system would aid a bottom-upwards flow of information, assessment and advice from the local and regional levels to inform the CFP as a whole; recognises that it would promote a closer and functionally relevant relationship between the Council, the Commission, individual Member State governments, the scientific community and fisheries organisations, who are given direct access to the regional policy formulating process;

20. Requests the Council and Commission to set up during 1999 a trialogue between the Council, the Commission and Parliament to draw up plans to enable the common fisheries policy to be regionalised following the 2002 review;

21. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council, and to the governments, parliaments and fisheries organisations of the Member States.