A4-0204/98

Resolution on the Commission communication, to the Council and the European Parliament on the future for the market in fisheries products in the European Union: responsibility, partnership and competitiveness (COM(97)0719 - C4-0029/98)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication, COM(97)0719 - C4-0029/98,

- having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 on the common organization of the market in fishery and aquaculture products (( OJ L 388, 31.12.1992, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0204/98),

A. whereas fish is a scarce resource, in Community waters as well as globally; whereas great efforts must be made to improve the management and utilization of this resource, in a responsible fashion,

B. whereas responsible marketing of fisheries products with a view to legitimizing resource management measures and as a means of consolidating the development of the sector at international level is important,

C. whereas wasteful practices cannot be tolerated and whereas the market policy, as well as all other parts of the common fisheries policy (CFP), must provide strong disincentives against such practices,

D. whereas the Commission has a responsibility concerning the practice of responsible fisheries and should accordingly pay attention to trade in fisheries products, to ensure ever closer compliance at all stages of this trade, including both imports into and exports from the Community, with the conditions that are required for the sustainable development of fisheries, while not overlooking its duty to increase consumer awareness in this field by all available means, including guidance campaigns, labelling, etc,

E. whereas the market in fishery and aquaculture products is marked by steadily increasing demand, a corresponding rise in import volumes and a diminishing proportion of Community products, which now make up little more than 40 per cent of the supply,

F. whereas dependence on imports and the various international agreements to which the Community is a party limit the scope for protectionism; whereas this dependence on imports is the reason for the high level of entry of fisheries products into the EU at zero duty rates (at present some 65% of all fisheries imports),

G. whereas, as far as international competition is concerned, it is vital to seek to make the most of Community fresh produce, notably through product identification and a policy designed to improve quality,

H. whereas the Community must nevertheless develop and consolidate its legitimate mechanisms for protecting its own producers and processors against unfair competition and support their efforts at strengthening their competitiveness; whereas the Community also has the duty to ensure a balance between the producer and processing sectors,

I. whereas the Community must encourage efforts to strengthen the fishery products sector,

J. whereas the expansion potential of the aquaculture sector, which already contributes more than 25 per cent of the Community fish supply in terms of value, is probably very large, but resources are needed to overcome problems and develop this potential, while taking due care to provide against the possible environmental consequences of this activity,

K. whereas the results of the market policy so far have not been sufficiently analysed and discussed,

L. whereas it should not be taken for granted that adjustments to the current market policy, rather than a concrete overhaul, produce the best results,

M. whereas the EU market for fishery and aquaculture products is clearly affected by the objectives and results of other strands of the CFP, in particular those relating to conservation, control and structural measures,

N. whereas problems in the market caused by failures in other CFP strands should preferably be remedied at source,

1. Calls on the Commission to present regular evaluations of the operation of the EU market in fishery and aquaculture products, including an assessment of the appropriateness of the measures in force in relation to the objectives of promoting quality, matching supply with demand, supporting fishermen's income and contributing to good management of the fish resources;

2. Calls on the Commission to undertake a study to identify the relationships between marketing, resource and monitoring measures and the consequences of the failure to coordinate those measures which has been detected, and to submit concrete proposals in this connection;

3. Considers that organization of the sector should be improved by enhancing the role of producers' organizations and by recognizing inter-trade organizations;

4. Considers that producers' organizations should be supported with a view to promoting the centralization of supply, as a means of achieving higher producer prices and negotiating contracts with the processing and distribution sectors in the interests of a closer fit between supply and demand; considers also that financial support must also be provided to enable them to offer technical assistance to their members;

5. Believes that the possibility of relying on market forces for the matching of supply and demand, rather than steering prices and intervening, should be investigated;

6. Underlines that the market policy must under all circumstances be seen in its proper CFP context and that any contradictions between its various strands should be eliminated;

7. Asks the Commission also to investigate whether the introduction of financial compensation for voluntary reduction of fishing effort would be a good way of compensating shipowners and fishermen, to allow for more effective management of resources;

8. Calls on the Commission, in this connection, to take account of the need to develop the carry-over premium mechanisms to complement withdrawal aids; agrees that withdrawal and destruction should be reduced and the products concerned placed on markets other than the fresh fish market;

9. Considers, therefore, that it is essential to stress the position that supplies of fresh fish to local markets should, as far as possible, be guaranteed by local producers; recalls the crucial role in this context of small-scale, non-industrial fisheries;

10. Welcomes, nevertheless, the fact that the Commission in its communication very clearly recognizes the importance of making market policy coherent with conservation policy, and calls on the Commission to present more specific proposals in this regard;

11. Calls on the Commission to develop further its ideas on how to reduce withdrawals and asks it to propose a quantitative target;

12. Notes with interest the idea of introducing catch plans as an instrument for achieving greater regularity of supply and to counteract the 'race for fish¨ that occurs in certain areas;

13. Considers that, in addition to the aid provided for catch plans, producers' organizations should be given financial support to enable them to offer technical assistance to producers (research into and promotion of selective fishing methods, development of methods and instruments to improve quality on board vessels, promotion of communication tools to facilitate forecasting etc.);

14. Agrees with the Commission that it is necessary to encourage the carry-over premium mechanisms, given their indisputable contribution to the regulation of supply, thus averting sharp price falls at times when the market is flooded with certain species;

15. Emphasizes that there is an urgent need to strengthen controls and believes that allowing fisheries products to be landed only at ports designated as having the capacity to carry out the necessary checks could considerably facilitate such efforts; recognizes, however, that such a system, if opted for, must be carefully designed so that it does not unduly complicate life for the fishermen;

16. Is concerned at the Commission's statement concerning the likely world market trend towards lowering or removing existing tariff protection; believes that, on the contrary, it is the Commission's duty to protect the Community's producers, as far as possible and while fully complying with its international obligations; considers in this connection that it is not desirable to introduce new tariff reduction or exemption measures in respect of third-country fisheries products, and that should such situations recur it would be preferable to apply the principle of reciprocity;

17. Considers, furthermore, that there should be closer distribution links, so as to improve the quality and certification of Community fisheries products;

18. Calls on the Commission to ensure the maintenance of reference prices and safeguard clauses as a baseline enabling the adoption, where necessary, of market protection measures as an emergency action in cases of serious disturbance of the market;

19. Wishes, however, to see Community fishermen and the Community processing industry protected from all forms of unfair competition; this should also include competition from third-country providers of fisheries products who can offer lower prices because they pay ultra-low wages, subject their employees to extremely hard working conditions, fish in ways that are incompatible with resource conservation, or offer fisheries products of suspect quality obtained under dubious health conditions; therefore asks the Commission to study what can be done to that effect;

20. Calls for account to be taken in trade with third countries of the problems of vessels flying flags of convenience and their catches in international waters, which are usually not compatible with either the principle of responsible fisheries or that of responsible trade, and thus seriously distort the conditions of competition on the market;

21. Calls on the Commission also to ensure that Community producers can compete with each other on a level playing field, meaning, inter alia, that Community support actions to some groups do not cause considerable damage to the competitive positions of other groups;

22. Calls on the Commission to ensure that its forthcoming legislative proposal for the reform of the COM in fisheries takes account of the main needs relating to fisheries products on the Community market and, therefore, maintains and encourages all the policies tending to increase the supply levels of the Community industry itself, from international fisheries agreements to structural actions in favour of aquaculture, in addition to proactive intervention by the Commission in the international fisheries organizations with a view to obtaining improved fisheries quotas for the Union;

23. Insists, in addition, that the legislative proposal should cover the following five vital points:

- there should be an internal information system for improved market monitoring, including, if necessary, the compilation of a list of the species most sensitive to price disturbances; also required is an improved warning system in respect of possible price crises;

- there should be suitable technical health controls, making it possible to certify the quality of Community products, with identifying labels where necessary; such controls should provide a guarantee that imports comply with the same health and hygiene norms as Community products; a Community reference laboratory should be set up for this purpose;

- compliance with minimum labelling regulations for fisheries products should be ensured to improve consumer information;

- public funding should be provided for operations to promote fisheries products with a regional identity, even if they do not have an official quality mark under Community protection (PDO, PGI) when they are subject to quality specifications monitored by an independent body;

- the support measures for Community products should, given the circumstances of today's market, differentiate between fresh products, frozen products and products intended for processing;

24. Considers that, in relation to the Community's deficit in fisheries products, it is essential, as a matter of urgency, to introduce a system differentiating the treatment of products of joint ventures with Community capital from that of third-country imports proper; recalls that the joint ventures in question were encouraged by the Community for the specific purpose of ensuring priority supplies for its market and that their capital, means of production and employees are largely supplied by the Community;

25. Finds it advisable to take further measures to ensure that the CFP observes high standards in the matter of responsible fisheries before any Community-backed eco-label is launched;

26. Agrees with the Commission that if certification systems are to be adopted for responsible fisheries or aquaculture it will be necessary beforehand to define a suitable legal framework at Community level, with input from the entire fisheries sector and all other interested parties, to ensure that certification systems for responsible fisheries or aquaculture of a biased or ill-controlled nature do not result in serious distortions of the conditions of market competition;

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

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