41 Amendments of Isabella LÖVIN related to 2012/2235(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that in the Pacific region, 15 ACP States have special relations with the EU under the Cotonou Agreement and that, in those countries, the fisheries sector, including inshore fishand offshore fishing, processing and aquaculture, plays a key role in terms of food security and economic and social development;
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Fisheries Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, such as paragraph 157 of UNGA resolution 66/68 in relation to the obligations of developed States towards least developed States and small island developing States,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the FAO International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, endorsed by the FAO Council in November 2000 (IPOA- Capacity),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing approved by the FAO Conference at its Thirty-sixth Session on 22 November 2009,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to its report on the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy1, __________________ 1 2011/2318(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to promote cooperation at regional and sub-regional level and to ensure that EU fisheries policies are compatible with existing regional Treaties and agreements, including the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and its implementing protocols;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A) whereas the EU's presence in the Western and Central Pacific hinges aroundin order to implement policy coherence for development, EU policies which have an impact on fisheries in Pacific ACP (PACP) countries – i.e. fisheries, trade and development – should be implemented in a way that ensures that they contribute to sustainable fisheries, development and trade policies and theseobjectives set up by PACP countries; whereas such an approach should be incorporated into the forthcoming renewal of the Cotonou Agreement, or in the instruments successive to that Agreement;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses the need for the EU to contribute to a decrease in fishing pressure on tropical tuna stocks, including by substantially decreasing mortality levels of juvenile big-eye tuna, a stock of great economic importance to the region and which is currently overfished;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the EU has to seek policy coherence for development on the basis of Article 208(1) of the TFEU, according to which 'The Union shall take account of the objectives of development cooperation in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries';
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets that there is no regional fisheries agreementpproach for the Pacific, bearing in mind the mobility of fish stocks; calls on the Commission to work towards a general framework for good fisheries governance at regional level in liaison witparticular by strengthening cooperation with Pacific countries bilaterally, regionally and through the appropriate RFMOs;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas bilateral and multilateral trade agreements being negotiated by the EU should be preceded by impact assessments, in particular with respect to the conservation of marine living resources and the consequences of such agreements on local populations; whereas such bilateral and multilateral agreements should be guided by the conclusions of such impact assessments;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, in the current negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the ACP aimed at adapting the generalised system of preferences arising from the Cotonou Agreement to WTO rules, fisheries products have a crucial role both in terms of access to European markets and as regards access to resources and good fisheries governance, with the aim of achieving sustainable development;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points to the need to coordinate EU activities in the Pacific region, not least the support for the fisheries sector under the EDF, the DCI, and the Investment Facility for the Pacific, and the funding allocations for sectoral support under the present SFAs with Micronesia, Kiribati, and the Solomon Islands;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas surveys of target species and significant by-catch species in the Western and Central Pacific indicate over- fishing of the big-eye tuna (Thunnus obesus)the most recent stock assessments conducted by the WCPFC Scientific Committee in 2012 indicate no overfishing of either skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) or yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in its regulatory area, but indicate over-fishing of big-eye tuna (Thunnus obesus); whereas mortality of juvenile big-eye tuna in purse seine fisheries, particularly those associated to fish aggregating devices, is of great concern; whereas in 2011, 18.7% of the catch of EU purse seiners in the region was made of big-eye tuna, mostly juveniles, and EU purse seiners had the highest average big-eye tuna catch per vessel;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the European Union's approach in the field of fisheries in the Pacific should actively support current regional efforts to address overcapacity and improve fisheries management;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the ACP States to continue to take a moren active part within the RFMOs and keep their civil societies and socio- professional organisations regularly informed about decisions concerning fisheries.
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the vessel day scheme (VDS) was introduced by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement in 2008 in an attempt to manage access to PNA waters, limit fishing effort in those waters and maximise benefits derived from the fishery to Pacific small island developing States;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas the WCPFC has mandated since 2008 the use of the VDS as the mechanism to regulate fishing effort by third countries' fleets in the EEZs of PNA members;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
Hc. whereas WCPFC conservation and management measure 2008-01 limited the effort exerted by the EU fleet on the high Seas to one hundred days, with reference to 2004 levels; whereas this figure was consistently exceeded with 258 days exerted in 2009, 379 in 2010, and 671 in 2011; whereas the EU fleet did therefore not comply with relevant WCPFC conservation and management measure;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas until its recent renewal in 2013, fishing activities under the United States signed a multilateral agreement with the Pacific States, first signed in 19887, and that Agreement, which is currently being renegotiated,did not come under the vessel day scheme; whereas such an agreement guaranteesd access to around 20% of the fishing days in the region; whereas access under such an agreement should be based on the vessel day scheme as of 15 June 2013;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the vessel day scheme (VDS), which is the system via which the PNA allocate fishing effort in their EEZs, is lacking in transparency, and maximisation of the financial profits obtained through that allocation takes precedence over the conservation of resource needs to be fully transparent and its provisions improved and implemented by all its members, in order to fulfil its objectives and to ensure full compatibility of measures taken both in the EEZs and on the high seas;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the fisheries partnership agreements signed by the EU, including those with the countries of the Pacific Region, have traditionally been based on the criterion ofa limitation of vessel numbers with an indicative reference tonnage, and this has led to disparities owing to the introduction of the VDS by the PNA and their desire to apply the VDS to partnership agreements with the EU;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas access based on either tonnage or vessel numbers does not adequately reflect total fishing effort, particularly of the EU fleet which is made up of very large vessels; whereas a well designed and enforced vessel day scheme has the potential to provide the means to prevent further increases in effort in the region;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas bilateral fisheries agreements between PNA countries and other States such as Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea and New Zealand are based on the VDS; whereas the new multilateral agreement with the US is also based on the VDS;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas EPAs should include a specific reference to the implementation of the IUU regulation, rather than simply general wording on the need to combat IUU fishing, and should not be concluded with third countries identified as "non- cooperating";
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas, however, besides the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Kiribati, the EU has also negotiated such agreements with two other countries of the Western Pacific, but these have not entered into effect, as; whereas the protocol to the Agreement with the Federated States of Micronesia was not ratified by that country's parliament andbecause it did not respect the PNA provisions; whereas the negotiations to renew the Agreement with the Solomon Islands have been at a standstill since 2012 for the same reason;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Urges the Commission to ensure the coordination ofcoherence among all the Community policies affecting the Pacific region, as required by Article 208 TFEU, and specifically those on fisheries, trade and development, and to enhance potential synergies with a view to achieving a multiplier effect that maximises the benefits both for the states of the Pacific region and for the EU countries, while also raising the profile of the EU in the Western and Central Pacific and contributing to sustainable exploitation of Pacific resources;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to seek that the 11th EDF takes this strategy into account and also reflects the possibility of increasing the percentage of sector-specific assistance for fishery infrastructure for the ACP-Pacific regionaddressing fishing communities needs (including enhancing their contribution to local food security), developing fishery infrastructure for landing and processing catches locally, since fishing is one of the region's main economic resources;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the importance of establishing a fisheries strategy for the Western and Central Pacific given the relevance of this region from a fisheries standpoint and its value to the Community's fleEU market and its fish processing industry and of providing legal certainty for the vessels operating there;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the EU strategy for accessing resources in the EEZs of the countries in the region by way of fisheries cooperation agreements has not worked properly except in the case of Kiribati, and crespected existing regional arrangements and such strategy has been counterproductive to the objectives of the Union. Considers that a new framework for relations is needed in order to revitalise those agreements;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers thisat a new negotiating approach to be more in line with the existing regional focusramework repeatedly called for by the EP, especially with reference to highly migratory species fisheries, is needed; in particular, calls on the Commission to ensure compliance with the PNA provisions in the case of negotiations with parties to the PNA;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that the EU's approach to the Pacific should assist developing States, small island development States in particular, in realizing a greater share of the benefits from the sustainable exploitation of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks and in strengthening regional efforts to sustainably conserve and manage fisheries for such stocks as called for by the UNFSA Review Conference;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission to include an explicit reference to the IUU Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 in the provisions of the EPA negotiated with the Pacific countries;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission not to grant any furtherto ensure that any derogation onfrom the rules of origin in the EPA negotiations with the Pacific ACP countries, without the granting of reciprocal benefits to the EU fishing industry, such as access to fisheries resources in those countries' EEZs shall be based on a full assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of such derogations in the countries concerned, including regional impacts, with particular emphasis on impacts on fishery-dependent coastal communities, on fish stocks and ensure that the overall development and sustainable fishing objectives of the Union are in no way undermined;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
12. Calls on the Commission to work with the Pacific region in order to provide for the establishing of a longer-term strategy on access for the EU fleet toregional fisheries strategy which aims at improving fisheries management in the region and is fully consistent with the EEZsrole of the countries of the regEU as a development cooperation, perhaps based on a regional framework agreement between the EU and the countries of the Western and Central Pacific, negotiated with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)artner as well as a flag State and market State; calls on the Commission to seek collaboration with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), and/or the PNA, in order to provide support to improved fisheries management and centring on the following aspects:
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point a
Paragraph 12 – point a
a) The agreement should outline the arrangements for access for the EU fleet, which would then be given concrete form in bilateral fisheries cooperation agreements with the countries concernedconditions for access for the EU fleet, including where possible exploring the possibility of negotiating a regional access agreement for the EU fleet;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point b
Paragraph 12 – point b
b) The agreement should establish a system of transparent governance which would in particular ensure the combating of IUU fishing and specify the tools that should be used, including the Port State Measures Agreement;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point c
Paragraph 12 – point c
c) The agreement should be based on the VDS, as an alternative to the current systembased on the VDS, provided that measures are adopted to ensure the transparency of the VDS, improve its effectiveness, its implementation by all the parties concernedrelevant parties and its compliance with the best available scientific advice;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point d
Paragraph 12 – point d
d) The negotiation of the agreement should explore ways of channelling EDF development assistance for the region through the FFA, since the Pacific ACP countries do not have the human and technical resources to adequately utilise that funding;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines the need for Parliament to be adequately involved in the preparation and negotiating process and the long-term monitoring and assessment of the functioning of bilateral agreements according to the provisions of the TFEU; insists that Parliament be immediately and fully informed on an equal footing with the Council at all stages of the procedure related to FPAs, pursuant to Articles 13(2) and 218(10) TFEU; recalls its conviction that Parliament should be represented by observers at the Joint Committee meetings envisaged in fisheries agreements and insists that civil society, including both EU and third country fisheries representatives, also attend as observers in those meetings;