Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 460/2004 establishing the European Network and Information Security Agency as regards its duration COM(2007) 861 final — 2007/0291 (COD)
Date: 2008-02-13
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU office or agency, European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, data protection, electronic mail, information network, transmission network

25.6.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 162/79

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation of the
European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 460/2004 establishing the
European Network and Information Security Agency as regards its duration

COM(2007) 861 final — 2007/0291 (COD)

(2008/C 162/15)

On 24 January 2008 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 460/2004
establishing the European Network and Information Security Agency as regards its duration

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part,
it decided, at its 442nd plenary session of 13 and 14 February 2008 (meeting of 13 February 2008), by
134 votes to 3 with 2 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.

Brussels, 13 February 2008.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Rights-based management tools in
fisheries

(2008/C 162/16)

On 27 September 2007, the European Economic and Social Committee decided to draw up an own-initia-
tive opinion, under Rule 29(2) of its Rules of Procedure, on

Rights-based management tools in fisheries.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 22 January 2008. The rapporteur was Mr
Sarró Iparraguirre.

At its 442nd plenary session, held on 13 and 14 February 2008 (meeting of 13 February), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 110 votes to two with five abstentions.

1. Conclusions

1.1
The EESC considers that, once the discussion phase is
over, the Commission should conduct a study focusing on the
current capacities of Community fleets and the quotas needed
to ensure their competitiveness, whilst respecting the sustain-
ability of Community fishing grounds.

This study should address the updating of Member
1.2
States' rights acquired on the basis of the principle of relative
stability and taking account of the 24 years that have elapsed
since 1983.

1.3
This update should allow for the periodical allocation of
quotas, e.g. for a period of five years, so that quotas can be
redistributed in the event of any imbalances re-emerging.

1.4
The update should work out the best solutions for elimi-
nating the imbalances currently affecting quotas for certain
pelagic and demersal species in specific fishing zones, which for
most Member States result
in excessive quotas or deficient
quotas.

1.5
In any case, the quotas involved should be based on
scientifically proven data. The EESC therefore believes that
greater efforts should be made to improve scientific knowledge
of resources. Currently, most quotas are established on the basis
of the precautionary approach, due to a lack of sufficient scien-
tific data.