WRITTEN QUESTION E-3796/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Maríne Stewardship Council.
Date: 2003-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community certification, EU financing, common fisheries policy, eco-label, non-governmental organisation, standardisation

C 78 E/858

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(cid:1) the adoption, where required, of

the emergency measures foreseen in Article 7 of

the same

Regulation;

(cid:1) the adjustment of fishing capacity and the elimination of structural aid leading to its increase, as

foreseen in Chapter III of the same Regulation and in subsequent implementing legislation.

As a complement of the above-mentioned strategy, and with a view to improving the effectiveness of the
measures, the Commission also envisages:

(cid:1) an improvement of the scientific basis for management decisions, based on the Communication
‘Improving scientific and technical advice for Community fisheries management’ (2003/C 47/06);

(cid:1) an improvement of the participation of the relevant stakeholders in the decision-taking process,
through the setting of Regional Advisory Committees as indicated in Article 31 of Regulation (EC)
No 2371/2002 and the proposal for a Council Regulation establishing Regional Advisory Councils
under the Common Fisheries Policy (2);

(cid:1) an improvement of the enforcement of fisheries management measures in the lines indicated in the

Communication ‘Towards uniform and effective implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy’ (3).

As far as stocks outside Community waters are concerned, the Commission will contribute to attain
maximum sustainable conditions by developing the policy outlined in a number of recent policy
documents, and in particular in the Communication from the Commission on an integrated framework for
fisheries partnership agreements with third countries (4) and in the Communication ‘Community action
plan for the eradication of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing’ (5).

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of

fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy, OJ L 359, 31.12.2002.

(2) COM(2003) 607 final.
(3) COM(2003) 130 final.
(4) COM(2002) 637 final.
(5) COM(2002) 180 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0911)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3796/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 December 2003)

Subject: Maríne Stewardship Council

What support, financial or otherwise, does the Commission give to the Maríne Stewardship Council?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2004)

The Maríne Stewardship Council (MSC) certification scheme is a private initiative which rewards certain
fishing practices with a distinctive label at the request of fishing operators so consumers can direct their
choices towards their products. The Commission has no legal instruments to give financial support to this
type of private initiative, although it is recognised that they might contribute to sustainable fisheries in
certain conditions. The Commission is currently in the process of drawing up a Communication which will
propose the principles and conditions under which certification schemes and eco-labels should operate in
the context of the Common Fisheries Policy.