WRITTEN QUESTION E-2298/00 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Community fishing boats outside the CFP.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law - national law, Morocco, common fisheries policy, competence of the Member States

C 89 E/178

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

(2001/C 89 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2298/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Community fishing boats outside the CFP

It is common knowledge that there are fishing boats from Community countries operating in international
waters which circumvent the rules laid down by the common fisheries policy (with regard to the state of
stocks, health and hygiene standards, working conditions and social security for crews, etc.) by using flags
of convenience. There are numerous reports about the predatory activities of these boats.

However, less is known about the practices indulged in by vessels from specific EU countries. In fact, some
of them, far from complying with the rules governing the CFP, prefer to fish freely, without the restrictions
limiting, for example, the quantity and size of catches, by means of (cid:145)private agreements with third
countries(cid:146). This is the case for certain vessels which exploit fishing opportunities, the legality of which is
not questioned, in waters under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Morocco.

How does the Commission intend, in the future reform of the CFP in 2002, to differentiate between boats
flying Community flags, boats flying the flags of EU countries, but fishing on the basis of private
agreements with third countries, and boats flying flags of convenience?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

With reference to the process of reforming the common fisheries policy as from 2002,
Commission(cid:146)s intention to conduct a complete review of all the components of this policy,
therefore its external aspects.

it
is the
including

As to the Commission(cid:146)s plans with regard to the three fleet segments referred to by the Honourable
Member (cid:129) i.e. (cid:145)vessels under Community flags fishing under agreements concluded by the Community(cid:146),
(cid:145)vessels under Community flags fishing under private agreements(cid:146) and (cid:145)vessels under flags of convenience
fishing outside Community waters(cid:146) (cid:129) these will be treated in strict accord with the Community(cid:146)s
international commitments, and the Commission will be taking into consideration the advice and opinions
offered during the above discussions.

However, and without wishing to predetermine future discussions, the Commission would like to stress
that it is committed to eradicating illegal fishing. It is already possible to identify various more effective
and constraining instruments for achieving this, such as a common strategy for Community distant-water
fishing, the possibility of taking legal action against Community nationals, and tighter controls on landings
in Community ports from both Community vessels and those flying non-Community flags.

The Commission would also like to point out that although the CFP, including its external aspects, is an
integrated Community policy, the implementation of it is the duty of the Member States, which retain full
policing powers over fishing activities.