A4-0272/96

Resolution on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on small-scale coastal fishing (budget heading B2-521) (COM(96)0102 - C4-0214/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on small-scale coastal fishing (budget heading B2- 521) (COM(96)0102 - C4-0214/96),

- having regard to its resolution of 20 January 1989 on small-scale fishing ((OJ C 47, 27.2.1989, p. 173.)),

- having delegated the power of decision, pursuant to Rule 52 of the Rules of Procedure, to the Committee on Fisheries,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0272/96),

A. whereas coastal fishing is an activity of major socio-economic importance in which, in certain Member States, over 70% of vessels are involved,

B. having regard to the importance of coastal fishing as a source of employment in regions which are highly dependent on fishing, in which it provides jobs for a substantial number of workers who could not easily be transferred to other activities,

C. whereas the characteristics of the vessels used, whose total length is less than 9 metres (or 12 metres in the case of vessels used for trawling), prevent them from moving to other fishing grounds,

D. having regard to the importance of coastal fishing in the supply of fresh fish to local people,

E. having regard to the impact of coastal fishing on the rational management of fisheries resources and on the conservation of the natural marine habitat,

F. whereas vocational training is a basic factor which helps to ensure safety at work and adequate marketing of fisheries products,

G. having regard to the Commission's statements regarding the guidelines of the fourth multi-annual guidance programme, in which it maintains that it will grant special treatment for coastal fishing,

1. Reiterates its view that small-scale coastal fishing requires priority Community action to provide those working in the sector with a decent standard of living and to protect jobs;

2. Considers that this measure, if it is to be effective, requires an adequate level of specific funding to be made available from the Community budget, additional to that allocated to the Structural Funds and sufficient to safeguard the measure;

3. Calls on the Commission to adopt the legal acts needed to establish a sound legal basis which will ensure continuity in the funding of the small-scale fishing fleet;

4. Calls the Commission to consult the Member States' authorities and representatives of the sector concerned and then to prepare Community initiatives aimed specifically at the sector;

5. Considers that decisions concerning the management of the resources earmarked for the sector in question cannot be adopted solely by a central power but must be taken in close cooperation with the local and regional authorities which have powers and responsibilities in respect of fisheries or the organization of the fisheries sector;

6. Calls on the Commission to launch an information campaign directed at the sector in order to promote awareness of the initiatives adopted, of projects for which subsidies are available, of application procedures and of any other factors which would increase the effectiveness of the initiatives adopted;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.