11 Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
| (a)
(33023)
12519/11
COM(11) 417
(b)
(33027)
12514/11
+ ADDs 1-3
COM(11) 425
|
Commission Communication: Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
Draft Regulation on the Common Fisheries Policy
|
| Legal base | (a) —
(b) Article 43(2) TFEU: co-decision; QMV
|
| Department | Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
|
| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 24 June 2012
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 428-xxxvi (2010-12), chapter 1 (14 September 2011) and HC 428-xl (2010-12), chapter 1 (2 November 2011)
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| Discussion in Council | Decision expected by mid 2013
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared (by a Resolution of the House on 8 November 2011)
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Background
11.1 The conservation aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP),
which came into operation in 1983, have endeavoured to maintain
stock levels by limiting catches and fishing effort, by so-called
technical conservation provisions, and by structural measures
seeking to bring the catching capacity of the fleet into line
with the fishing opportunities available to it. However, despite
various changes made over the years, there has been general agreement
that the Policy has not achieved its objectives, and that, as
a result, many of the EU's fish stocks are in a parlous state.
11.2 The Commission duly produced in July 2011 this
Communication (document (a)) and draft Regulation (document (b)),
together with two further Communications — one reporting
on the operation of current measures for the conservation of fisheries
resources,[66] and the
other dealing with the external dimension of the CFP[67]—
and a separate draft Regulation[68]
on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture
products.
11.3 We spelt out at some length in our Report of
14 September 2011 the contents of both document (a), which set
out the main elements in the proposed reform, including the need
for sustainable fishing (involving the elimination of discarding
of fish, an obligation to land catches of regulated species, and
the placing of greater reliance on multi-annual and multi-annual
stock management plans), and securing a profitable industry by
means of a system of transferable fishing concessions within individual
Member States, and document (b) which sought to give legal effect
to the changes proposed in the Communication. We concluded by
saying that we had no hesitation, even at that early stage, in
recommending the documents for debate, and that debate took place
in European Committee A on 7 November 2011.
Subsequent correspondence
11.4 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural
Environment at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Mr Richard Benyon) wrote to us on 11 June, alerting us
to the fact that the pace of events had accelerated under the
Danish Presidency, and that these two documents — along
with the proposals on the common organisation of the market —
would be on the agenda of the Fisheries Council the following
day, when the Presidency would attempt to obtain agreement to
a partial general approach.
11.5 He has now written to say that, despite some
contentious issues, such an agreement was reached, which included
action supporting nearly all the UK's detailed negotiating priorities,
as set out in Annex A, and which he decided to support, not least
to avoid the risk of the Articles being weakened if the discussions
had been inconclusive. He adds that the agreement of a general
approach is an important step, and that the first reading of this
proposal will continue into the Cypriot Presidency, with the relevant
European Parliament Committee expected to vote in the late autumn,
followed by a plenary vote shortly afterwards. The first reading
in the Council is then expected to be completed in early 2013,
with a second reading likely to follow later that year.
Conclusion
11.6 We are grateful to the Minister for this
update, and, although these two documents have been cleared by
virtue of the debate in European Committee A on 7 November 2011
and the Resolution of the House of the following day, we think
it right to draw these developments to the attention of the House.
66 (33024) 12518/11: see HC 428-xxxvi (2010-12), chapter
15 (14 September 2011). Back
67
(33025) 12517/11: see HC 428-xxxvi (2010-12), chapter 16 (14 September
2011). Back
68
(33026) 12516/11: see HC 428-xxxvii (2010-12), chapter 5 (12 October
2011). Back
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