DATA ON LANDINGS OF FISHERY PRODUCTS (14571/05)
Letter from Ben Bradshaw MP, Minister
for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare, Department for
Environment Food and Rural Affairs to the Chairman
I am writing to inform your Committee of the
current position on this dossier following the informal contacts
between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission
with a view to reaching an agreement on this dossier at First
Reading.
The substance of the original proposal was set
out in EM 14571/05 of 5 December 2005 which was cleared from scrutiny
by your Committee on 13 December 2005. The Council Working Party
on Statistics examined the proposal on 28 November 2005 and reached
agreement on a number of amendments to be made. Subsequently,
following informal talks between the Austrian Presidency, the
Commission and the European Parliament, it appeared that a first-reading
adoption of the proposal under the co-decision procedure would
be possible on the basis of a set of compromise amendments. These
were approved by the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries
on 3 May 2006, and corresponded to a very large extent to the
amendments agreed in the Council Working Party on Statistics.
In the original proposal, the Commission sought
to reduce the frequency of the requirement to provide data and
allow an increased use of derogations within the colletion process,
both of which helped to simplify and reduce the burden of collecting
the data on Member States. At the same time, some extra data on
classification of fishery products and details on the final use
of the products was identified as needed. The compromise amendments
(which are consistent with those identified by Member States as
desirable at the Council Working Party on Statistics) are such
that much of this additional data has only to be provided on a
voluntary basis, reducing the level of additional burden placed
on Member States and the fishing industry. The other parts of
the compromise amendments relate to clarifying definitions used
within the legislation and calling for a review every three years
of the usefulness and effectiveness of the requirements.
The UK Government supported the original proposal
and compromise amendments. The aims of the proposal were consistent
with UK objectives to reduce the burdens placed on both governments
and the fishing industry. In addition the proposal and compromise
amendments are consistent with the UK principles of requirements
being "fit for purpose" and of simplifying existing
requirements when possible during reviews of statistical areas.
In order to make possible a first-reading adoption
of the proposal at its plenary session in June 2006, the European
Parliament sought reassurances on the Council's position prior
to its vote in plenary. The Council, through the Austrian Presidency,
did agree to the amendments in the document.
The European Parliament adopted the compromise
amendments at its plenary session on 15 June 2006. The dossier
is now expected to be adopted as an "A" point at one
of the Councils scheduled during late 2006; an exact date is not
yet known. I apologise for the delay in updating you.
31 October 2006
Letter from Ben Bradshaw MP to the Chairman
I am writing to inform your Committee of the
current position on this dossier following the second reading
in the European Parliament.
The substance of the original proposal was set
out in EM 14571/05 of 5 December 2005 which was cleared from scrutiny
by your Committee on 14 December 2005. The Council Working Party
on Statistics examined the proposal on 28 November 2005 and reached
agreement on a number of amendments to be made. Subsequently,
following informal talks between the Austrian Presidency, the
Commission and the European Parliament, it appeared that a first-reading
adoption of the proposal under the co-decision procedure would
be possible on the basis of a set of compromise amendments. These
were approved by the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries
on 3 May 2006, and corresponded to a very large extent to the
amendments agreed in the Council Working Party on Statistics.
In the original proposal, the Commission sought
to reduce the frequency of the requirement to provide data and
allow an increased use of derogations within the collection process,
both of which helped to simplify and reduce the burden of collecting
the data on Member States. At the same time, some extra data on
classification of fishery products and details on the final use
of the products was identified as needed. The compromise amendments
(which are consistent with those identified by Member States as
desirable at the Council Working Party on Statistics) are such
that much of this additional data has only to be provided on a
voluntary basis, reducing the level of additional burden placed
on Member States and the fishing industry. The other parts of
the compromise amendments relate to clarifying definitions used
within the legislation and calling for a review every three years
of the usefulness and effectiveness of the requirements.
The UK Government supported the original proposal
and compromise amendments. The aims of the proposal were consistent
with UK objectives to reduce the burdens placed on both govemments
and the fishing industry. In addition the proposal and compromise
amendments are consistent with the UK principles of requirements
being "fit for purpose" and of simplifying existing
requirements when possible during reviews of statistical areas.
In order to make possible a first-reading adoption
of the proposal at its plenary session in June 2006, the European
Parliament sought reassurances on the Council's position prior
to its vote in plenary. The Council, through the Austrian Presidency,
did agree to the amendments in the document.
The European Parliament adopted the compromise
amendments at its plenary session on 15 June 2006. The dossier
went through its second reading on 14 December and, as there were
no further amendments submitted, the President of the European
Parliament declared the legislation to be adopted.
29 January 2007
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