B4-0029, 0030, 0031, 0032, 0042, 0043 and 0044/97

Resolution on the Commission statement on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Ministers for Fisheries of 19-20 December 1996

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the meeting of the Fisheries Council on 19-20 December 1996,

- having regard to the statement by Commissioner Bonino to Parliament on 16 January 1997,

- having regard to its opinions of 13 December 1996 on:

. the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the objectives and detailed rules for restructuring the Community fisheries sector for the period from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2002 with a view to achieving a balance on a sustainable basis between resources and their exploitation (COM(96)0237 - C4-0438/96 - 96/0142(CNS) ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 4(a).)),

. the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the Common Fisheries Policy (COM(96)0232 - C4-0337/96 - 96/0140(CNS) ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 4(c).)),

. the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 as regards the deadline for a Council decision on a continuous position monitoring system using satellite communications for Community fishing vessels (COM(96)0386 - C4-0483/96 - 96/0193(CNS)2,

- having regard to its resolution of 25 October 1996 on the communication from the Commission on the implementation of technical measures in the common fisheries policy ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 12(c).)),

A. whereas there have been difficulties in applying the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP),

B. whereas fisheries are important in social terms as a direct and indirect source of jobs, and are also important to the economy of a number of regions and considering that, despite successive regulations, economic difficulties in the areas depending on fisheries are increasing, and that such difficulties have a strong social impact;

C. whereas the fourth Multiannual Guidance Programme (MAGP IV) proposal does not take into account the obvious social consequences to the fishing sector nor the job losses it will entail,

D. whereas, in order to conclude the existing fisheries agreement with Morocco, the EU made significant concessions external to the agreement; having regard to the desire of Morocco to revise the fisheries agreement and impose a biological moratorium exclusively on Community vessels, and to the statements by the Moroccan Government concerning non-renewal of the existing agreement,

1. Acknowledges that the restructuring of fleets, technical measures and effective programmes for controlling fishing activities are three vital aspects, indissolubly linked to each other, of fisheries management policy;

2. Regrets the lack of progress in the Council on measures which are essential to help achieve an equilibrium between the Community fleet and available resources;

MAGP IV

3. Notes with concern the lack of faith in the Common Fisheries Policy shown by many EU fishermen and calls on Member States to use this period of grace to consult fully and take on board the views of fishermen and their organizations, especially through the creation of experimental projects in which fishermen manage fish stocks themselves, also in cooperation with non- member countries;

4. Considers that restructuring must take account of the impact of the proposed measures in economic, social and employment terms, bearing in mind that it is possible to reduce the fishing effort not only by cutting the capacity of the Union fleet but also, and above all, by reducing the catch efficiency of the fleet itself, while ensuring that the fishing effort becomes compatible with environmental protection;

5. Insists that it is necessary to promote, at the same time, measures that rationalize fishing activity (biological moratoriums, better exploitation of quotas, a shift towards new species, etc.), to encourage greater selectivity of gear, to support any initiative that could encourage the repopulation of fishing grounds, reduction in water pollution, etc., and to strengthen controls on fishing activities;

6. Strongly deplores the fact that, in consequence of postponement of the adoption of the Fourth MAGP, the Commission decided to suspend, as of 1 January 1997, aid for the rebuilding and modernization of vessels, since all that measure does is to directly hit fishermen, who are not to blame for such decisions and who are already suffering the consequences of a crisis in the sector;

Technical measures

7. Reaffirms the need to improve the selectivity of fishing techniques in order to reduce the problem of by-catches, rejects and catches of immature fish;

8. Stresses that any modification or innovation in technical measures should be scientifically justified and be technically and commercially validated by prior experiments co-financed by the Community and carried out under real conditions, with the participation of the fishermen themselves, in the fishing zones concerned;

9. Insists that technical measures must be at the same time simple, cost- effective, technically feasible and practical to operate in commercial conditions, readily understandable by fishermen and uncomplicated to enforce;

10. Believes that innovative approaches should be taken into consideration, including the development of a tangible system of conservation dividends to reward those EU countries which voluntarily adopt conservation measures in their legislation;

Satellite controls

11. Welcomes the Council decision seeking to introduce a satellite system to control fishing activities;

Salmon

12. Is concerned by the continuing failure to find a solution to the EU salmon crisis;

TACs and quotas

13. Regrets that once again the size of TACs was based on political trading and incomplete scientific data;

Final remarks

14. Expresses its concern that compromise documents produced by the Council Presidency are already far removed from the original proposals presented to Parliament and insists on Parliament's right to be consulted if the Council intends to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposals;

15. Stresses that it is important to assess carefully - in both the short term and long term - the socio-economic impact of the introduction of any technical measure or of any new MAGP and to consider additional and specific financial compensation for any loss of income or employment such measures might cause;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.