5 Simplification of the Common Fisheries
Policy
| (30689) 10838/09 COM(09) 261
| Commission Communication on the implementation of the Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 9 June 2009
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 11 June 2009
|
| Department | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 26 June 2009
|
| Previous Committee Report | None, but see footnotes
|
| To be discussed in Council | No date set
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
5.1 Fisheries is among the areas included in the Commission's
rolling programme of action[25]
to simplify Community legislation, and in December 2005 the Commission
put forward an Action Plan[26]
indicating the measures it proposed to take in that sector in
the period 2006-2008. This suggested that simplification should
benefit both fishermen and those responsible for administering
the CFP, and that it should address three categories of legislation
— those instruments whose review had already started, notably
as a result of the simplification initiative; new legislation
to be drawn up in the coming years; and current legislative instruments
which needed to be simplified as a matter of priority. More specifically,
it proposed that action should be taken in the following areas:
total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas and fishing effort,
technical measures for protecting juvenile stock, collection and
management of data, monitoring, reporting obligations, and fishing
outside Community waters.
The current document
5.2 The current document seeks to summarise what has been achieved
to date under the Action Plan, and to consider whether any new
initiatives are necessary. It does so under the following headings:
Fisheries acquis
The Commission undertook
a review of Community legislation to see whether any measures
should be removed or codified. It notes that the number of legal
acts in this area has increased considerably, and that, as of
1 March 2009, 795 measures were listed in the Directory of Community
legislation in force, this increase being due to the need for
the more precise classification of some acts; the transposition
into Community law of an extensive body of measures adopted by
Regional Fisheries Organisations; and a failure to repeal some
60 acts now regarded as obsolete. It says that it has since proposed
the repeal of some of the obsolete measures, and that a further
reduction will be achieved by proposals to codify a number of
other measures, particularly in the event of the Council adopting
a new control Regulation (see below).
Main legislative initiatives
The Commission notes that it has:
- introduced several measures
in order to clarify the Regulations setting annual TACs and quotas;
- put in place a new working method for preparing
annual Council decisions on fishing opportunities, involving enhanced
consultation with stakeholders and better coordination with scientific
advisers;
- carried out a review of the
Control Regulation, which it describes as being at the centre
of the simplification exercise for the CFP, involving a proposal[27]
for a new Regulation, which would be based on an extended use
of information and communication technologies and efficient use
of databases;
- put forward a proposal[28]
for a new Technical Conservation Regulation governing the conservation
of fisheries resources through technical measures, such as mesh
and minimum landing sizes;
- adopted a new Community framework for collecting
and using the data needed to carry out the necessary scientific,
technical and economic analyses;
- simplified the granting of aid by introducing
a new single Community instrument (the European Fisheries Fund),
and by reducing the extent to which national measures need to
be scrutinised for compliance with state aid rules.
Data management
The Commission says that new rules have been adopted
extending the use of information technology for the recording
and transmitting of data relating to fishing activities as well
as management of authorisations for Community and non-Community
vessels (such as the introduction of Electronic Reporting Systems
(ERS) and the Fishing Authorisation Permits (FAP)).
Reduction of administrative burdens
The Commission notes that fisheries was one of the
priority areas selected as part of the overall drive to reduce
administrative burdens within the Community, with particular emphasis
being placed on the large number of reporting obligations imposed
upon those operating within the sector. It says that the new control
system proposed should lead to a reduction of administrative burdens
for the fishing industry of up to 30% of the current costs, and
that an exemption for vessels of less than 12 metres fishing for
periods less than 24 hours from record-keeping requirements, together
with the related inspection obligation, has resulted in estimated
savings have of around €14 million.
5.3 The Communication concludes by saying that, although
many of the commitments listed in the 2006-2008 Action Plan have
been met, continuous efforts will be made to simplify and improve
the regulatory environment for fishing and its related activities.
Priorities will include a reduction in unnecessary reporting obligations
placed on businesses as well as regrouping legal provisions into
fewer acts to improve clarity and accessibility. Simplification
will also be kept in mind when the reformed Common Fisheries Policy
is drawn up.
The Government's view
5.4 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 26 June 2009,
the Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife
and Rural Affairs at the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Mr Huw Irranca-Davies) says that
the Government welcomes
the publication of the Communication, which provides a detailed
and comprehensive analysis of the Commission's commitment to simplifying
and improving the Common Fisheries Policy. He notes that, since
the inception of the Action Plan, simplification proposals have
been discussed at official level and with stakeholders, and that
these discussions will continue until the Commission has adopted
all the areas identified. The Minister adds that, the Government
has strongly advocated for the simplification of fisheries legislation
in the UK, and has supported the Commission in its programme of
improvement to the Common Fisheries Policy. He also says that,
in order to show its commitment to this objective, it has ensured
that its domestic legislation and guidance for industry are based
on the principles of simplification.
Conclusion
5.5 As is evident from the various footnotes,
we have at various stages reported to the House on the earlier
Action Plan, and on a number of the subsequent individual measures
which have been taken. To that extent, the current document does
not break new ground, but, as it provides a useful summary of
some welcome steps to simplify this important policy area, we
think it right to draw it to the attention of the House.
25 (26982) 13976/05: see HC 34-xiv (2005-06), chapter
9 (11 January 2006). Back
26
(27102) 15613/05: see HC 34-xv (2005-06), chapter 9 (18 January
2006). Back
27
(30178) 15694/08: see HC 19-xi (2008-09), chapter 2 (18 March
2009). Back
28
(29738) 10476/08: see HC 19-v (2008-09) chapter 13 (28 January
2009). Back
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