Strasbourg: The evaluation of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy took center stage during a debate in the plenary of the European Parliament held on Thursday. The discussions focused on the sustainability of fish stocks, profitability of the fisheries sector, support for small-scale fishers, and the potential need for targeted amendments to the existing framework.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis highlighted that the Regulation on the Common Fisheries Policy serves as the European Union's foundation for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The Commission's evaluation, presented in April, a decade after the last framework revision, confirmed the validity of the approach adopted in 2013, which aimed to integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
The evaluation, as noted by the Commissioner, indicates that the effectiveness of the Regulation relies not only on its overall framework but also on the operational implementation of its tools. These tools include technical and conservation measures, control mechanisms, and multiannual plans. Kadis emphasized that the EU continues to lead globally in sustainable fisheries, a role that must be upheld, particularly in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, while ensuring fair competition for European operators against fleets from third countries.
Kadis also mentioned that the evaluation provided a diagnosis of current rules, necessitating political decisions on future actions. He stated that it is crucial to examine which identified shortcomings require legislative changes and to what extent. During his response, the Commissioner stressed that he carefully considered the remarks from MEPs and acknowledged that this is the first comprehensive evaluation of the Regulation since the 2013 reform. With this data in mind, Kadis will contemplate proposing a targeted amendment to the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation to the College of Commissioners, aligning with the Commission's better regulation procedures.