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Language: en
Format: md

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# 92001E0174

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/01 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Fisheries and the precautionary principle.** 
  
*Official Journal 235 E , 21/08/2001 P. 0142 - 0142*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Fisheries and the precautionary principle

The EC Treaty requires that Community policy on the environment should be based on the precautionary principle (Article 174). How does the Commission intend to apply the precautionary principle to fisheries policy decisions?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0174/01 and E-0214/01 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The application of the precautionary principle is recognised in two forthcoming Communications by the Commission as one of the key elements in achieving the integration of environmental protection requirements, including conservation of biodiversity, into the Common Fisheries Policy. Firstly a strategy for the integration of environmental protection requirements and secondly an Action Plan for biodiversity for fisheries will be presented to the Council and the Parliament during spring of this year.

The Commission has also explained in the recently adopted Communication on this principle and multiannual arrangements(1) how this work will be carried forward for the commercially important species. The two Communications mentioned above will explain how the principle will be applied in a broader sense, including to non-target species, habitats and food web interactions, leading to full integration into the fisheries policy.

The Commission has, however, already started to apply the precautionary principle in fisheries management. Long-term management plans in accordance with this principle have so far been agreed for about 11 commercially important fish stocks and conditional closures of sandeel fisheries have been instituted to enhance the protection of sea birds.

(1) COM(2000) 803 final.

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