Article 1 Subject-matter and scope
1. This Regulation establishes a multiannual plan (‘the plan’) for the following stocks (‘the stocks concerned’) in the Union waters of the Baltic Sea and for the fisheries exploiting the stocks concerned: (a) cod ( Gadus morhua ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-24 (Western Baltic cod); (b) cod ( Gadus morhua ) in ICES Subdivisions 25-32 (Eastern Baltic cod); (c) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivisions 25, 26, 27, 28.2, 29 and 32 (Central Baltic herring); (d) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivision 28.1 (Gulf of Riga herring); (e) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivision 30 (Bothnian Sea herring); (f) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivision 31 (Bothnian Bay herring); (g) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-24 (Western Baltic herring); (h) sprat ( Sprattus sprattus ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-32 (Baltic sprat). 2. This Regulation also applies to by-catches of plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa ), flounder ( Platichthys flesus ), turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ) and brill ( Scophthalmus rhombus ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-32 caught when fishing for the stocks concerned.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL One of the central objectives of the reform of the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) 1 is reaching the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) exploitation rate for all stocks in order to restore and maintain populations of fish stocks at sustainable levels i.e. above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources can be better achieved through a multiannual approach to fisheries management by adopting the multiannual fisheries management plans which according to the current CFP should reflect the specificities of the different fisheries and of the stocks. The multiannual management plans should provide the framework for the sustainable exploitation of stocks defining clearly the time frame and safeguard mechanisms for unforeseen development in fish stock status. In 2013 an Inter-institutional Task Force on multiannual plans was established between the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission for the purpose of agreeing on a way forward to facilitate the development and introduction of multiannual plans under the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy. It decided that the target which corresponds to the MSY objective, should be expressed as a range of F msy values provided by scientists, which would then be fixed by the co-legislators and established in the plan. The Council would adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities on an annual basis, based on scientific advice and in such a way as to achieve the objectives of the plan. 2 The first multiannual management plan after the reform of the CFP was adopted for the Baltic Sea region. Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 established a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat (stocks concerned) in the Baltic Sea (the plan). The objective of the plan is to ensure that the exploitation of the stocks concerned restores and maintains populations of those stocks above levels which can produce MSY. The plan sets the quantifiable targets, i.e. fishing mortality ranges, as well as, conservation reference points expressed in terms of MSY B trigger and B lim . The numerical values of the mentioned parameters were taken from the scientific advice provided by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2015 3 . The scientific assessment conducted in 2017 shows that the respective MSY values for the stocks of the Bothnian Sea herring and of the Bothnian Bay herring have changed. Article 5(6) of Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 provides that where, on the basis of scientific advice, the Commission considers that the conservation reference points set out in Annex II to that Regulation no longer correctly express the objectives of the plan, those points, as a matter of urgency, may be submitted for the revision to the European Parliament and the Council. It is therefore the intention of the Commission to propose an amendment of the Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 in light of the most recent and the best scientific advice available.
Revised version (Article 1 Subject-matter and scope):
1. This Regulation establishes a multiannual plan (‘the plan’) for the following stocks (‘the stocks concerned’) in the Union waters of the Baltic Sea and for the fisheries exploiting the stocks concerned: (a) cod ( Gadus morhua ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-24 (Western Baltic cod); (b) cod ( Gadus morhua ) in ICES Subdivisions 25-32 (Eastern Baltic cod); (c) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivisions 25, 26, 27, 28.2, 29 and 32 (Central Baltic herring); (d) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivision 28.1 (Gulf of Riga herring); (e) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES subdivisions 30-31 (Gulf of Bothnia herring); (g) herring ( Clupea harengus ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-24 (Western Baltic herring); (h) sprat ( Sprattus sprattus ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-32 (Baltic sprat). 2. This Regulation also applies to by-catches of plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa ), flounder ( Platichthys flesus ), turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ) and brill ( Scophthalmus rhombus ) in ICES Subdivisions 22-32 caught when fishing for the stocks concerned.
Article 2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 apply. In addition, the following definitions apply: (1) ‘pelagic stocks’ means the stocks listed in points (c) to (h) of Article 1(1) of this Regulation and any combination thereof; (2) ‘range of F MSY ’ means a range of values where all levels of fishing mortality within the scientifically indicated boundaries of that range, in situations of mixed fisheries and in accordance with scientific advice, result in maximum sustainable yields (MSY) in the long term under existing average environmental conditions without significantly affecting the reproduction process for the stocks concerned; (3) ‘MSY F lower ’ and ‘MSY F upper ’ mean the lowest value and the highest value within the range of F MSY , respectively; (4) ‘MSY B trigger ’ means the spawning stock biomass reference point below which specific and appropriate management action is to be taken to ensure that exploitation rates in combination with natural variations rebuild stocks above levels capable of producing MSY in the long term; (5) ‘Member States concerned’ means Member States having a direct management interest, namely Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 2 Definitions):
(2) ‘range of F MSY ’ means a range of values provided in the best available scientific advice, in particular from ICES or a similar independent scientific body recognised at Union or international level, where all levels of fishing mortality within that range result in maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in the long term with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions without significantly affecting the reproduction process for the stock in question. It is derived to deliver no more than a 5 % reduction in long-term yield compared to the MSY. It is capped so that the probability of the stock falling below the limit spawning stock biomass reference point (B lim ) is no more than 5 %; (3) ‘MSY F lower ’ means the lowest value within the range of F MSY ; (4) ‘MSY F upper ’ means the highest value within the range of F MSY ; (5) ‘F MSY point value’ is the value of the estimated fishing mortality that with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions gives the long-term maximum yield; (6) ‘lower range of F MSY ’ means a range that contains values from MSY F lower to F MSY point value; (7) ‘upper range of F MSY ’ means a range that contains values from F MSY point value up to MSY F upper ; (8) ‘B lim ’ means the spawning stock biomass reference point provided in the best available scientific advice, in particular by ICES or a similar independent scientific body recognised at Union or international level, below which there may be reduced reproductive capacity; (9) ‘MSY B trigger ’ means the spawning stock biomass reference point provided for in the best available scientific advice, in particular from ICES or a similar independent scientific body recognised at Union or international level, below which specific and appropriate management action is to be taken to ensure that exploitation rates in combination with natural variations rebuild stocks above levels capable of producing MSY in the long term; (10) ‘Member States concerned’ means Member States having a direct management interest, namely Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden.
Article 3 Objectives
1. The plan shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the common fisheries policy (CFP) listed in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in particular by applying the precautionary approach to fisheries management, and shall aim to ensure that exploitation of living marine biological resources restores and maintains populations of harvested species above levels which can produce MSY. 2. The plan shall contribute to the elimination of discards by avoiding and reducing, as far as possible, unwanted catches, and to the implementation of the landing obligation established in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 for the species which are subject to catch limits and to which this Regulation applies. 3. The plan shall implement the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management in order to ensure that negative impacts of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem are minimised. It shall be coherent with Union environmental legislation, in particular with the objective of achieving good environmental status by 2020 as set out in Article 1(1) of Directive 2008/56/EC. In particular the plan shall aim to: (a) ensure that the conditions described in descriptor 3 contained in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC are fulfilled; and (b) contribute to the fulfilment of other relevant descriptors contained in Annex I to that Directive in proportion to the role played by fisheries in their fulfilment. 4. Measures under the plan shall be taken in accordance with the best available scientific advice.
Article 4 Targets
1. The target fishing mortality shall be achieved as soon as possible and, on a progressive, incremental basis, by 2020 for the stocks concerned, and it shall be maintained thereafter within the ranges set out in Annex I and in line with the objectives laid down in Article 3(1). 2. In accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fishing opportunities shall be fixed in accordance with the objectives and targets of the plan and shall comply with the target fishing mortality ranges set out in Annex I, column A, to this Regulation. 3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, fishing opportunities may be fixed at levels corresponding to lower levels of fishing mortality than those set out in Annex I, column A. 4. Notwithstanding paragraphs 2 and 3, fishing opportunities for a stock may be fixed in accordance with the fishing mortality ranges set out in Annex I, column B, provided that the stock concerned is above the minimum spawning stock biomass reference point set out in Annex II, column A: (a) if, on the basis of scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary for the achievement of the objectives laid down in Article 3 in the case of mixed fisheries; (b) if, on the basis of scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary to avoid serious harm to a stock caused by intra- or inter-species stock dynamics; or (c) in order to limit variations in fishing opportunities between consecutive years to not more than 20 %. The application of this paragraph shall be explained by a reference to one or more of the conditions set out in points (a) to (c) of the first subparagraph. 5. Where, according to scientific advice, the MSY exploitation rate is achieved for the stock concerned by 2020, fishing opportunities for that stock may be fixed in accordance with paragraph 4 thereafter. 6. Where, on the basis of scientific advice, the Commission considers that the fishing mortality ranges set out in Annex I no longer correctly express the objectives of the plan, the Commission may as a matter of urgency submit a proposal for revision of those ranges. 7. Fishing opportunities shall in any event be fixed in such a way as to ensure that there is less than a 5 % probability of the spawning stock biomass falling below the limit spawning stock biomass reference point (B lim ) set out in particular in Annex II, column B.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 4 Targets):
1. The target fishing mortality in line with the ranges of F MSY defined in Article 2 shall be achieved as soon as possible, and on a progressive, incremental basis by 2020 for the stocks listed in Article 1(1), and shall be maintained thereafter within the ranges of F MSY , in accordance with this Article. 2. The ranges of F MSY based on the plan shall be requested in particular from ICES or a similar independent scientific body recognised at Union or international level. 3. In accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, when the Council fixes fishing opportunities for a stock, it shall establish those opportunities within the lower range of F MSY available at that time for that stock. 4. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 3, fishing opportunities may be fixed at levels that are lower than the ranges of F MSY . 5. Notwithstanding paragraphs 3 and 4, fishing opportunities for a stock may be fixed in accordance with the upper range of F MSY available at that time for that stock, provided that the stock referred to in Article 1(1) is above MSY B trigger : (a) if, on the basis of scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary for the achievement of the objectives laid down in Article 3 in the case of mixed fisheries; (b) if, on the basis of scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary to avoid serious harm to a stock caused by intra- or inter-species stock dynamics; or (c) in order to limit variations in fishing opportunities between consecutive years to not more than 20 %. 6. Fishing opportunities shall in any event be fixed in such a way as to ensure that there is less than a 5 % probability of the spawning stock biomass falling below B lim .
Article 5 Safeguards
1. The conservation reference points expressed as minimum and limit spawning stock biomass levels that are to be applied in order to safeguard the full reproductive capacity of the stocks concerned are set out in Annex II. 2. When scientific advice indicates that the spawning stock biomass of any of the stocks concerned is below the minimum spawning stock biomass reference point as set out in Annex II, column A, to this Regulation, all appropriate remedial measures shall be adopted to ensure rapid return of the stock concerned to levels above the level capable of producing MSY. In particular, by way of derogation from Article 4(2) and (4) of this Regulation and in accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, to achieve such levels, fishing opportunities for the stock concerned shall be fixed at a level consistent with a fishing mortality that is reduced below the range set out in Annex I, column B, to this Regulation, taking into account the decrease in biomass of that stock. 3. When scientific advice indicates that the spawning stock biomass of any of the stocks concerned is below the limit spawning stock biomass reference point as set out in Annex II, column B, to this Regulation, further remedial measures shall be taken to ensure the rapid return of the stock concerned to levels above the level capable of producing MSY, which may include, by way of derogation from Article 4(2) and (4) of this Regulation and in accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, suspending the targeted fishery for the stock concerned and the adequate reduction of fishing opportunities. 4. Remedial measures referred to in this Article may include: (a) Commission measures in case of a serious threat to marine biological resources in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (b) Member State emergency measures in accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (c) measures pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of this Regulation. 5. The choice of measures referred to in this Article shall be made in accordance with the nature, seriousness, duration and repetition of the situation where the spawning stock biomass is below the levels referred to in paragraph 1. 6. Where, on the basis of scientific advice, the Commission considers that the conservation reference points set out in Annex II no longer correctly express the objectives of the plan, the Commission may, as a matter of urgency, submit a proposal for the revision of those conservation reference points.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 5 Safeguards):
1. When scientific advice indicates that for a given year the spawning biomass of any of the stocks referred to in Article 1(1) is below the MSY B trigger , all appropriate remedial measures shall be adopted to ensure rapid return of the stock concerned to levels above those capable of producing MSY. In particular, notwithstanding Article 4(3), fishing opportunities shall be set at levels consistent with a fishing mortality that is reduced below the upper range of F MSY , taking into account the decrease in biomass. 2. When scientific advice indicates that the spawning stock biomass of any of the stocks referred to in Article 1(1) is below the B lim , further remedial measures shall be taken to ensure rapid return of the stock concerned to levels above the level capable of producing MSY. In particular, those remedial measures may include, notwithstanding Article 4(3), suspending the targeted fishery for the stock and the adequate reduction of fishing opportunities. 3. Remedial measures referred to in this Article may include: (a) emergency measures in accordance with Articles 12 and 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (b) measures pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of this Regulation. 4. The choice of measures referred to in this Article shall be made in accordance with the nature, seriousness, duration and repetition of the situation where the spawning stock biomass is below the levels referred to in Article 4a.
Article 6 Measures for plaice, flounder, turbot and brill caught as a by-catch
1. When scientific advice indicates that remedial measures are needed to ensure that the Baltic stocks of plaice, flounder, turbot or brill, caught as by-catch when fishing for the stocks concerned, are managed in accordance with the objectives of Article 3 of this Regulation, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 regarding: (a) characteristics of fishing gear, in particular mesh size, hook size, construction of the gear, twine thickness, size of the gear or use of selectivity devices, to ensure or improve selectivity; (b) use of the fishing gear, in particular immersion time and depth of gear deployment, to ensure or improve selectivity; (c) prohibition or limitation on fishing in specific areas, to protect spawning and juvenile fish or fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species; (d) prohibition or limitation on fishing or the use of certain types of fishing gear during specific time periods, to protect spawning fish or fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species; (e) minimum conservation reference sizes, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms; (f) other characteristics linked to selectivity. 2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3.
Article 7 Provisions linked to the landing obligation
1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 regarding the following measures: (a) exemptions from the application of the landing obligation for species for which scientific evidence demonstrates high survival rates, taking into account the characteristics of the gear, of the fishing practices and of the ecosystem, to facilitate the implementation of the landing obligation; (b) de minimis exemptions to facilitate the implementation of the landing obligation; such de minimis exemptions shall be provided for cases referred to, and shall be in accordance with the conditions set out, in point (c) of Article 15(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. (c) specific provisions on documentation of catches, in particular for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the landing obligation; and (d) the fixing of minimum conservation reference sizes, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms. 2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 7 Provisions linked to the landing obligation):
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 regarding the following measures: (a) exemptions from the application of the landing obligation for species for which scientific evidence demonstrates high survival rates, taking into account the characteristics of the gear, of the fishing practices and of the ecosystem, to facilitate the implementation of the landing obligation; (c) specific provisions on documentation of catches, in particular for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the landing obligation; and (d) the fixing of minimum conservation reference sizes, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms. However, in respect of Atlantic salmon, the delegated powers conferred upon the Commission under the first subparagraph shall be limited to the measures referred to in point (a) of that subparagraph. 2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3. 3. The landing obligation provided for in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall not apply to recreational fishing, including in cases where the Council sets limits for recreational fishermen.
Article 8 Technical measures
1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 regarding the following technical measures: (a) specifications of characteristics of fishing gears and rules governing their use, to ensure or improve selectivity, to reduce unwanted catches or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; (b) specifications of modifications or additional devices to the fishing gears, to ensure or improve selectivity, to reduce unwanted catches or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; (c) limitations or prohibitions on the use of certain fishing gears and on fishing activities, in certain areas or periods to protect spawning fish, fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species, or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; and (d) the fixing of minimum conservation reference sizes for any of the stocks to which this Regulation applies, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms. 2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 8 Technical measures):
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 regarding the following technical measures, insofar as they are not covered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 ): (a) specifications of characteristics of fishing gears and rules governing their use, to ensure or improve selectivity, to reduce unwanted catches or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; (b) specifications of modifications or additional devices to the fishing gears, to ensure or improve selectivity, to reduce unwanted catches or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; (c) limitations or prohibitions on the use of certain fishing gears and on fishing activities, in certain areas or periods to protect spawning fish, fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species, or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; and (d) the fixing of minimum conservation reference sizes for any of the stocks to which this Regulation applies, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms. 2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3 of this Regulation and shall comply with Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
Article 9 Regional cooperation
1. Article 18(1) to (6) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall apply to the measures referred to in Articles 6, 7 and 8 of this Regulation. 2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States concerned may submit joint recommendations for the first time not later than 21 July 2017 and thereafter 12 months after each submission of the evaluation of the plan in accordance with Article 15. They may also submit such recommendations when deemed necessary by the Member States concerned, in particular in the event of an abrupt change in the situation for any of the stocks to which this Regulation applies. Joint recommendations in respect of measures concerning a given calendar year shall be submitted not later than 1 July of the previous year. 3. The empowerments granted under Articles 6, 7 and 8 of this Regulation shall be without prejudice to powers conferred to the Commission under other provisions of Union law, including under Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 10 Relationship with Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009
The control measures provided for in this Chapter shall apply in addition to those provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, save where otherwise provided for in this Chapter.
Article 11 Prior notifications
1. By way of derogation from Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the prior notification obligation laid down in that Article shall apply to masters of Union fishing vessels of an overall length of 8 metres or more retaining on board at least 300 kg of cod or 2 tonnes of pelagic stocks. 2. By way of derogation from Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the prior notification period laid down in that Article shall be at least one hour before the estimated time of arrival at port. The competent authorities of the coastal Member States may, on a case-by-case basis, give permission to an earlier entry into port.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 11 Prior notifications):
1. By way of derogation from Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the prior notification obligation laid down in that Article shall apply to masters of Union fishing vessels of an overall length of 8 metres or more retaining on board at least 250 kilograms of cod or 2 tonnes of pelagic stocks. 2. By way of derogation from Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the prior notification period laid down in that Article shall be at least one hour before the estimated time of arrival at port. The competent authorities of the coastal Member States may, on a case-by-case basis, give permission to an earlier entry into port.
Article 12 Logbooks
By way of derogation from Article 14(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, masters of Union fishing vessels of an overall length of 8 metres or more engaged in targeted fishing for cod shall keep a fishing logbook of their operations in accordance with Article 14 of that Regulation.
Article 13 Margin of tolerance in the logbook
By way of derogation from Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, for catches which are landed unsorted the permitted margin of tolerance in estimates recorded in the fishing logbook of the quantities in kilograms of fish retained on board shall be 10 % of the total quantity retained on board.
Article 14 Designated ports
The threshold applicable to the live weight of species subject to the plan, above which a fishing vessel is required to land its catches in a designated port or a place close to the shore as set out in Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 shall be: (a) 750 kilograms of cod; (b) 5 tonnes of pelagic stocks.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. The fund helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 14 Designated ports):
The threshold applicable to the live weight of species subject to the plan, above which a fishing vessel is required to land its catches in a designated port or a place close to the shore as set out in Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 shall be: (a) 250 kilograms of cod; 250 kilograms of cod; (b) 5 tonnes of pelagic stocks. 5 tonnes of pelagic stocks.
Article 15 Evaluation of the plan
By 21 July 2019, and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the results and impact of the plan on the stocks to which this Regulation applies and on the fisheries exploiting those stocks, in particular as regards the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3. The Commission may report at an earlier date if this is deemed necessary by all Member States concerned or by the Commission itself.
Article 16 Exercise of the delegation
1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 6, 7 and 8 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 20 July 2016. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period. 3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 6, 7 and 8 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. 5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 6, 7 and 8 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and to the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Article 17 Support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
Temporary cessation measures adopted in order to achieve the objectives of the plan shall be deemed as temporary cessation of fishing activities for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014.
Article 18 Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005
Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 is amended as follows: (1) Article 13(3) is deleted;
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL One of the central objectives of the reform of the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) 1 is reaching the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) exploitation rate for all stocks in order to restore and maintain populations of fish stocks at sustainable levels i.e. above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources can be better achieved through a multiannual approach to fisheries management by adopting the multiannual fisheries management plans which according to the current CFP should reflect the specificities of the different fisheries and of the stocks. The multiannual management plans should provide the framework for the sustainable exploitation of stocks defining clearly the time frame and safeguard mechanisms for unforeseen development in fish stock status. In 2013 an Inter-institutional Task Force on multiannual plans was established between the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission for the purpose of agreeing on a way forward to facilitate the development and introduction of multiannual plans under the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy. It decided that the target which corresponds to the MSY objective, should be expressed as a range of F msy values provided by scientists, which would then be fixed by the co-legislators and established in the plan. The Council would adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities on an annual basis, based on scientific advice and in such a way as to achieve the objectives of the plan. 2 The first multiannual management plan after the reform of the CFP was adopted for the Baltic Sea region. Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 established a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat (stocks concerned) in the Baltic Sea (the plan). The objective of the plan is to ensure that the exploitation of the stocks concerned restores and maintains populations of those stocks above levels which can produce MSY. The plan sets the quantifiable targets, i.e. fishing mortality ranges, as well as, conservation reference points expressed in terms of MSY B trigger and B lim . The numerical values of the mentioned parameters were taken from the scientific advice provided by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2015 3 . The scientific assessment conducted in 2017 shows that the respective MSY values for the stocks of the Bothnian Sea herring and of the Bothnian Bay herring have changed. Article 5(6) of Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 provides that where, on the basis of scientific advice, the Commission considers that the conservation reference points set out in Annex II to that Regulation no longer correctly express the objectives of the plan, those points, as a matter of urgency, may be submitted for the revision to the European Parliament and the Council. It is therefore the intention of the Commission to propose an amendment of the Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 in light of the most recent and the best scientific advice available.
Revised version (Article 18 Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005):
Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 is amended as follows: (1) Article 13(3) is deleted; (2) the following Article is inserted: 
‘Article 16a
Area restriction on fishing
1. It shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity from 1 May to 31 October within the areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions, which shall be measured in accordance with the WGS84 coordinate system:
(a) Area 1:
(a) Area 1:
— 55° 45′ N, 15° 30′ E
— 55° 45′ N, 15° 30′ E
— 55° 45′ N, 16° 30′ E
— 55° 45′ N, 16° 30′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 16° 30′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 16° 30′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 16° 00′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 16° 00′ E
— 55° 15′ N, 16° 00′ E
— 55° 15′ N, 16° 00′ E
— 55° 15′ N, 15° 30′ E
— 55° 15′ N, 15° 30′ E
— 55° 45′ N, 15° 30′ E
— 55° 45′ N, 15° 30′ E
(b) Area 2:
(b) Area 2:
— 55° 00′ N, 19° 14′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 19° 14′ E
— 54° 48′ N, 19° 20′ E
— 54° 48′ N, 19° 20′ E
— 54° 45′ N, 19° 19′ E
— 54° 45′ N, 19° 19′ E
— 54° 45′ N, 18° 55′ E
— 54° 45′ N, 18° 55′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 19° 14′ E
— 55° 00′ N, 19° 14′ E
(c) Area 3:
(c) Area 3:
— 56° 13′ N, 18° 27′ E
— 56° 13′ N, 18° 27′ E
— 56° 13′ N, 19° 31′ E
— 56° 13′ N, 19° 31′ E
— 55° 59′ N, 19° 13′ E
— 55° 59′ N, 19° 13′ E
— 56° 03′ N, 19° 06′ E
— 56° 03′ N, 19° 06′ E
— 56° 00′ N, 18° 51′ E
— 56° 00′ N, 18° 51′ E
— 55° 47′ N, 18° 57′ E
— 55° 47′ N, 18° 57′ E
— 55° 30′ N, 18° 34′ E
— 55° 30′ N, 18° 34′ E
— 56° 13′ N, 18° 27′ E.
— 56° 13′ N, 18° 27′ E.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, fishing with gillnets, entangling nets and trammel nets of a mesh size equal to or larger than 157 mm or with drifting lines shall be permitted. No other gear shall be kept on board.’;
(3) the following Article is inserted:
(3) the following Article is inserted: 
‘Article 28aa
Procedure for adopting technical measures in the context of multiannual plans
The Commission is empowered, for the purpose of adopting the acts referred to in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( *1 ) and for the duration thereof, to adopt technical measures. Such technical measures shall be established by means of delegated acts adopted in accordance with Article 28b of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, and may, where appropriate, derogate from the following:
(a) specifications of target species, mesh sizes and minimum conservation reference sizes laid down in Annexes II, III and IV to, and referred to in Articles 3 and 4 and Article 14(1) of, this Regulation;
(a) specifications of target species, mesh sizes and minimum conservation reference sizes laid down in Annexes II, III and IV to, and referred to in Articles 3 and 4 and Article 14(1) of, this Regulation;
(b) structures, characteristics and rules governing the use of active gears laid down in Article 5(2), (3) and (4) and Article 6 of, and in Annex II to, this Regulation;
(b) structures, characteristics and rules governing the use of active gears laid down in Article 5(2), (3) and (4) and Article 6 of, and in Annex II to, this Regulation;
(c) structures, characteristics and rules governing the use of passive gears laid down in Article 8 of this Regulation;
(c) structures, characteristics and rules governing the use of passive gears laid down in Article 8 of this Regulation;
(d) the list(s) of coordinates of areas and periods where fishing prohibitions or restrictions apply as laid down in Articles 16 and 16a of this Regulation;
(d) the list(s) of coordinates of areas and periods where fishing prohibitions or restrictions apply as laid down in Articles 16 and 16a of this Regulation;
(e) the species to which Article 18a(1) of this Regulation applies, as well the geographical areas and periods of application of restrictions on fishing for certain stocks laid down in that paragraph, as well as the technical details of the derogation laid down in Article 18a(2) of this Regulation.
(e) the species to which Article 18a(1) of this Regulation applies, as well the geographical areas and periods of application of restrictions on fishing for certain stocks laid down in that paragraph, as well as the technical details of the derogation laid down in Article 18a(2) of this Regulation.
(4) in Article 28b(2), (3) and (5), the words ‘Articles 14a and 28a’ are replaced by the words ‘Articles 14a, 28a and 28aa’.
(4) in Article 28b(2), (3) and (5), the words ‘Articles 14a and 28a’ are replaced by the words ‘Articles 14a, 28a and 28aa’.
Article 19 Repeal of Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007
Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 is repealed. References made to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation.
Article 20 Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the fifth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL One of the central objectives of the reform of the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) 1 is reaching the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) exploitation rate for all stocks in order to restore and maintain populations of fish stocks at sustainable levels i.e. above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources can be better achieved through a multiannual approach to fisheries management by adopting the multiannual fisheries management plans which according to the current CFP should reflect the specificities of the different fisheries and of the stocks. The multiannual management plans should provide the framework for the sustainable exploitation of stocks defining clearly the time frame and safeguard mechanisms for unforeseen development in fish stock status. In 2013 an Inter-institutional Task Force on multiannual plans was established between the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission for the purpose of agreeing on a way forward to facilitate the development and introduction of multiannual plans under the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy. It decided that the target which corresponds to the MSY objective, should be expressed as a range of F msy values provided by scientists, which would then be fixed by the co-legislators and established in the plan. The Council would adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities on an annual basis, based on scientific advice and in such a way as to achieve the objectives of the plan. 2 The first multiannual management plan after the reform of the CFP was adopted for the Baltic Sea region. Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 established a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat (stocks concerned) in the Baltic Sea (the plan). The objective of the plan is to ensure that the exploitation of the stocks concerned restores and maintains populations of those stocks above levels which can produce MSY. The plan sets the quantifiable targets, i.e. fishing mortality ranges, as well as, conservation reference points expressed in terms of MSY B trigger and B lim . The numerical values of the mentioned parameters were taken from the scientific advice provided by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2015 3 . The scientific assessment conducted in 2017 shows that the respective MSY values for the stocks of the Bothnian Sea herring and of the Bothnian Bay herring have changed. Article 5(6) of Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 provides that where, on the basis of scientific advice, the Commission considers that the conservation reference points set out in Annex II to that Regulation no longer correctly express the objectives of the plan, those points, as a matter of urgency, may be submitted for the revision to the European Parliament and the Council. It is therefore the intention of the Commission to propose an amendment of the Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 in light of the most recent and the best scientific advice available.
Revised version (Article 20 Entry into force):
This Regulation shall enter into force on the fifth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.