The Commission adopted in 2005, the 2006-2008 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy . This paper takes stock of what has been achieved to date, with a view to considering new initiatives and addressing possible shortcomings. It also considers what has been done at national level on simplification, since better regulation is a common goal of the Community and Member States. However, since the Commission services have received limited feedback from the Member States, it is currently not possible to report on their results.

In accordance with the objectives set out in the Action Plan, the following issues are examined:

the screening of the body of the Community law relating to fisheries; the main legislative initiatives adopted to date; the reduction of administrative burdens imposed on fishermen by the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rules.

With regard to legislative initiatives , the Commission notes that the most noteworthy initiative was the introduction of a new working method for preparing annual Council Decisions on fishing opportunities, through enhanced consultation with stakeholders and better coordination with scientific advisers. Well in advance of the yearly legal proposals, the Commission now presents a Communication containing a Policy Statement on the fishing opportunities for the following year. This working method has proven to be effective in improving outcomes, especially through the consultation of stakeholders on the preparation of texts which are of great importance to the industry.

The paper also discusses data management and consultation of stakeholders. With regard to the former, the Commission notes that the Simplification Action Plan put particular emphasis on an extended use of information technology, with a view to promoting a paperless environment, namely on the recording and transmission of data relating to fishing activities as well on the management of authorisations for EU and non-EU vessels to fish. Specific and detailed communication means have been elaborated, such the Electronic Reporting System (ERS) and the Fishing Authorisation Permits (FAP). These IT tools will complement those designed to manage the handling of data relating to fleet, fishing vessel activities and marketing of fish products.

The Commission concludes that although commitments listed in the Action Plan have been met, efforts to simplify the regulatory environment concerning fishing and related activities will be continued, since the tasks set by the better regulation agenda are of a permanent nature. Specific initiatives on the simplification of the CFP will be inserted in the Commission’s Annual Programme. For instance, the 2009 programme mentions the revision of rules governing market organisation with a view to improving legal clarity and reducing administrative burden through extended use of electronic reporting. Cutting pointless reporting obligations will also remain a main objective as well as regrouping legal provisions in fewer acts, while improving their clarity and accessibility. Simplification goals will be kept in mind when drawing up the reformed CFP, while the impact of procedural rules that the Lisbon Treaty will have on the legislative process, will also be taken into due consideration.

The Commission encourages Member States to commit themselves to a simplified regulatory environment, by cancelling needless requirements established by domestic legislation and by promoting the use of ICT.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Philippe MORILLON (ALDE, FR), in response to the 2006-2008 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy. (Please see the summary of 21/06/2006.)

The committee adopted the own-initiative report drawn up by its chair, Philippe MORILLON (ALDE, FR), in response to the 2006-2008 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy. MEPs welcomed the communication and expressed support for the objectives and methods proposed by the Commission. However, they called for more extensive pre-legislative consultation, at as early a stage as possible, of all the parties affected by the planned measures. The report stressed that closer consultation, in particular with the Regional Advisory Councils and the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, would "undoubtedly result in those involved in the fisheries sector identifying more closely with fisheries legislation".

The committee rejected the Commission's proposal of submitting a "short" regulation on technical measures to the Council, to be followed by detailed Commission regulations. It insisted that Parliament should not be bypassed in this way and warned that any simplification process should not be carried out "at the expense of robbing Parliament of its responsibilities as regards intervening in legislative procedures".

MEPs also urged the Commission to exercise caution when it comes to extending Member States' powers to adopt certain locally-applicable measures for the conservation and management of fisheries resources. They warned that this could lead to the emergence of discriminatory conditions in the Member States concerned. Lastly, the committee called on the Commission to finalise a 'standard agreement' for fisheries partnership agreements, enshrining the rights and obligations of the two parties (Community and third country).

The Council held an exchange of views on the Communication from the Commission on the Action Plan for simplifying and improving the CFP.

Delegations broadly welcomed the Communication in an effort by the Commission to simplify the Community legislative framework. Several delegations expressed their support for the establishment of a frontloading exercise aimed at reducing the workload at the end of the year and enhancing the legislative work of the Council. Some delegations insisted in particular on reducing the administrative burden for the fishing industry. These delegations suggested among other priorities the maximum reduction and simplification of the reporting documents currently required.

PURPOSE : to adopt an action plan for 2006-2008 to simplify and improve the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

CONTENT : this plan is part of the Commission-wide process aimed at encouraging better regulation. Detailed proposals were drawn up on the basis of the Council’s Conclusions on simplifying the CFP and an extensive consultation process with Member States and the fishing industry.

In order to simplify and improve the CFP, in the light of all earlier initiatives and of the consultations with the parties concerned, the Commission is:

- proposing a methodology attuned to the characteristic features of the common fisheries policy;

- indicating the initiatives that should, as a matter of priority, be simplified and improved by spelling out, on a case-by-case basis, the simplifying measures to be taken.

The aims of the CFP simplification exercise are to ensure that legislative texts are clear and unambiguous; to ensure that both fishermen and national administrators have access to the information they need in a concise and easily-understood form and to reduce the burden of work that currently falls upon these two groups of stakeholders as a result of unnecessary complications in regulation.

The plan identifies a series of priority initiatives for the next three years concentrated on two key areas: conservation and control.

With regard to the policy for conserving fish stocks, after consulting the Member States and the industry in accordance with the principles set out above, the Commission proposes that priority be given to simplifying legislation concerning:

- the management and conservation of certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, in the case of Community vessels, in waters subject to catch limitations ;

- measures for the conservation of fish stocks through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms;

- the collection and management of data needed for implementing the common fisheries policy.

With regard to monitoring , following wide-ranging consultations with the stakeholders, the Commission will present a series of proposals for revising the existing provisions in particular through increased use of computerisation and automation of certain procedures in order to reduce reporting obligations significantly.

By focusing on conservation and control, the Commission hopes to improve working conditions for both fishermen and public officials in the fisheries sector thus encouraging the effective, efficient and transparent application of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Action Plan includes specific commitments to earlier and fuller consultation, and to greater stakeholder involvement not only in shaping policy, but in ensuring that fishermen in particular are kept fully informed of their rights and obligations.

Lastly, the Action Plan also confirms other recent initiatives taken by the Commission as part of the reform of the CFP, including: the adoption of a multi-annual approach to conservation strategy; targeting conservation instruments by region or by fishery; taking better account of interactions between fishing and the environment in research and data collection; and extending the use of advanced technologies, including IT systems, in control, monitoring and reporting.

PURPOSE : to adopt an action plan for 2006-2008 to simplify and improve the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

CONTENT : this plan is part of the Commission-wide process aimed at encouraging better regulation. Detailed proposals were drawn up on the basis of the Council’s Conclusions on simplifying the CFP and an extensive consultation process with Member States and the fishing industry.

In order to simplify and improve the CFP, in the light of all earlier initiatives and of the consultations with the parties concerned, the Commission is:

- proposing a methodology attuned to the characteristic features of the common fisheries policy;

- indicating the initiatives that should, as a matter of priority, be simplified and improved by spelling out, on a case-by-case basis, the simplifying measures to be taken.

The aims of the CFP simplification exercise are to ensure that legislative texts are clear and unambiguous; to ensure that both fishermen and national administrators have access to the information they need in a concise and easily-understood form and to reduce the burden of work that currently falls upon these two groups of stakeholders as a result of unnecessary complications in regulation.

The plan identifies a series of priority initiatives for the next three years concentrated on two key areas: conservation and control.

With regard to the policy for conserving fish stocks, after consulting the Member States and the industry in accordance with the principles set out above, the Commission proposes that priority be given to simplifying legislation concerning:

- the management and conservation of certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, in the case of Community vessels, in waters subject to catch limitations ;

- measures for the conservation of fish stocks through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms;

- the collection and management of data needed for implementing the common fisheries policy.

With regard to monitoring , following wide-ranging consultations with the stakeholders, the Commission will present a series of proposals for revising the existing provisions in particular through increased use of computerisation and automation of certain procedures in order to reduce reporting obligations significantly.

By focusing on conservation and control, the Commission hopes to improve working conditions for both fishermen and public officials in the fisheries sector thus encouraging the effective, efficient and transparent application of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Action Plan includes specific commitments to earlier and fuller consultation, and to greater stakeholder involvement not only in shaping policy, but in ensuring that fishermen in particular are kept fully informed of their rights and obligations.

Lastly, the Action Plan also confirms other recent initiatives taken by the Commission as part of the reform of the CFP, including: the adoption of a multi-annual approach to conservation strategy; targeting conservation instruments by region or by fishery; taking better account of interactions between fishing and the environment in research and data collection; and extending the use of advanced technologies, including IT systems, in control, monitoring and reporting.