BETA


2009/2238(INI) Arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead PECH CADEC Alain (icon: PPE PPE)
Committee Opinion INTA JADOT Yannick (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) Jarosław WAŁĘSA (icon: PPE PPE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2010/11/29
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2010/07/08
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2010/07/08
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2010/07/08
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 374 votes to 13, with 11 abstentions, a resolution on the arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP.

The resolution deplores the fact that the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy devotes only a few lines to the issue of imports, and clearly underestimates the importance of addressing this issue properly for the credibility and success of the reform.

Parliament notes that EU fishery and aquaculture production falls well short of the needs of the processing industry and growing consumer demand, and will continue to do so. It acknowledges, therefore, the need to promote responsible consumption , based upon quality and sustainability rather than quantity, the need to reinforce fisheries management to promote stock recovery and the fact that imports will continue to play an important role in supplying the EU market.

The resolution emphasises, however, the overriding need to ensure that the EU retains environmentally sustainable and economically viable fishery and aquaculture sectors , including small-scale operations, provide jobs at all stages of production, and supply safe, good-quality food.

The resolution also notes that the current openness of the Community market to exports of fishery and aquaculture products can - under certain circumstances - have a negative impact on the local economy in certain regions , especially the most remote regions in relation to selling their local products.

Trade and customs policy: Parliament considers that the EU, as the world’s largest importer of fishery products, shares political responsibility with other major fish importing countries for ensuring that the WTO trade rules respect the highest possible global standards of fisheries management and conservation . It calls on the Commission to ensure that fair, transparent and sustainable trade in fish is strengthened in the EU’s bilateral and multilateral trade agreements

Unable to accept the idea – promoted through the commercial policy currently being pursued – Members take the view that tariff protection is reasonable and should continue to be an important and legitimate instrument enabling the authorities to regulate imports.

The resolution urges the EU representatives negotiating bilateral and regional agreements to require more systematically a real quid pro quo in exchange for trade concessions to non-EU countries on imports of fishery and aquaculture products, resolutely defending any offensive interests of the EU in this sector. It emphasises that the EU needs to retain control over the trade preferences that it grants to certain partners by insisting on the application of strict rules of origin based on the concept of “wholly obtained” products.

Environmental, social, health and quality aspects: Parliament believes that it should be one of the key aims of EU policy on fishery and aquaculture imports to ensure that imported products meet the same requirements that apply to EU production in every respect .

Members are concerned that the massive influx of fishery and aquaculture products onto the Community market from third countries could influence consumers' buying habits. They consider, moreover, that EU efforts to conserve fish stocks and make fishing sustainable, pursued through the CFP, are incompatible with importing fishery and aquaculture products from countries which are stepping up their fishing efforts without concern for sustainability and are only interested in short-term profitability.

The resolution encourages the rigorous and effective application of rules to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while acknowledging the need of many developing countries for help with implementing the rules properly and combating illegal fishing.

Parliament takes the view that the Union must also enforce those undertakings in order to ensure that all products exported to the European Union, without exception, are from countries that have ratified the main international agreements in the field of maritime law . It demands that all the trade preferences granted by the EU in respect of fishery and aquaculture products be made strictly conditional upon the fulfilment of stringent environmental and social requirements.

Parliament emphasises the importance of rigorously applying all aspects of EU law in relation to health standards and inspections (including food safety, traceability and prevention), which are crucial aspects for consumer protection, to fishery and aquaculture imports, including feedstuffs and feed materials. In this context, the Commission is urged to enhance its programme of third country inspections by fine-tuning Food and Veterinary Office missions.

Revision of the COM: the resolution draws attention to the various resolutions, adopted during the 6 th parliamentary term, asking the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to carry out a far-reaching revision of the COM in fishery products to enable it to contribute better to guaranteeing earnings in the sector, ensuring market stability, improving the marketing of fishery products and increasing the added value generated.

Consumer information: Members emphasise the urgent need to introduce stringent and transparent criteria for certifying and labelling in respect of the quality and traceability of European fishery and aquaculture products and to promote the introduction, as soon as possible, of specific EU ecolabelling for such products in order to put an end to the uncontrolled proliferation of private certification systems.

The ecocertification and ecolabelling of fishery and aquaculture products should be a process that is transparent and easily understandable by the consumer, and should be available to the whole sector without exception.

Aquaculture : highlighting the fact that aquaculture products account for a growing proportion of fishery and aquaculture imports into the EU, Parliament sees a determined policy of supporting and developing sustainable aquaculture, with a reduced environmental impact, in the EU as one of the key aspects of a strategy to reduce dependence on fishery and aquaculture imports, stimulate economic activity in the EU and offer a more plentiful and varied supply in response to the rapidly rising demand.

Documents
2010/07/08
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2010/06/24
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2010/06/24
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2010/06/22
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on Fisheries adopted an own-initiative report drafted by Alain CADEC (EPP, FR) on the arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP.

The report deplores the fact that the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy devotes only a few lines to the issue of imports, and clearly underestimates the importance of addressing this issue properly for the credibility and success of the reform.

Members note that EU fishery and aquaculture production falls well short of the needs of the processing industry and growing consumer demand, and will continue to do so. They acknowledge, therefore, the need to promote responsible consumption, based upon quality and sustainability rather than quantity, the need to reinforce fisheries management to promote stock recovery and the fact that imports will continue to play an important role in supplying the EU market .

The report emphasises, however, the overriding need to ensure that the EU retains environmentally sustainable and economically viable fishery and aquaculture sectors , including small-scale operations, provide jobs at all stages of production, and supply safe, good-quality food.

Trade and customs policy: Members consider that the EU, as the world’s largest importer of fishery products, shares political responsibility with other major fish importing countries for ensuring that the WTO trade rules respect the highest possible global standards of fisheries management and conservation . They call on the Commission to ensure that fair, transparent and sustainable trade in fish is strengthened in the EU’s bilateral and multilateral trade agreements

Unable to accept the idea – promoted through the commercial policy currently being pursued – Members take the view that tariff protection is reasonable and should continue to be an important and legitimate instrument enabling the authorities to regulate imports.

The report urges the EU representatives negotiating bilateral and regional agreements to require more systematically a real quid pro quo in exchange for trade concessions to non-EU countries on imports of fishery and aquaculture products, resolutely defending any offensive interests of the EU in this sector. It emphasises that the EU needs to retain control over the trade preferences that it grants to certain partners by insisting on the application of strict rules of origin based on the concept of “wholly obtained” products.

Environmental, social, health and quality aspects: the committee believes that it should be one of the key aims of EU policy on fishery and aquaculture imports to ensure that imported products meet the same requirements that apply to EU production in every respect .

Members are concerned that the massive influx of fishery and aquaculture products onto the Community market in an environment of unfair competition could influence the eating habits of Europeans, who, at a time of general economic crisis, could yield to the easy temptation to buy cheaper and lower-quality food products. They consider, moreover, that EU efforts to conserve fish stocks and make fishing sustainable, pursued through the CFP, are incompatible with importing fishery and aquaculture products from countries which are stepping up their fishing efforts without concern for sustainability and are only interested in short-term profitability.

The report encourages the rigorous and effective application of rules to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while acknowledging the need of many developing countries for help with implementing the rules properly and combating illegal fishing.

The committee takes the view that the Union must also enforce those undertakings in order to ensure that all products exported to the European Union, without exception, are from countries that have ratified the main international agreements in the field of maritime law . It demands that all the trade preferences granted by the EU in respect of fishery and aquaculture products be made strictly conditional upon the fulfilment of stringent environmental and social requirements.

Members emphasise the importance of rigorously applying all aspects of EU law in relation to health standards and inspections (including food safety, traceability and prevention), which are crucial aspects for consumer protection, to fishery and aquaculture imports, including feedstuffs and feed materials. In this context, the Commission is urged to enhance its programme of third country inspections by fine-tuning Food and Veterinary Office missions.

Revision of the COM: the report draws attention to the various resolutions, adopted during the 6 th parliamentary term, asking the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to carry out a far-reaching revision of the COM in fishery products to enable it to contribute better to guaranteeing earnings in the sector, ensuring market stability, improving the marketing of fishery products and increasing the added value generated.

Consumer information: Members emphasise the urgent need to introduce stringent and transparent criteria for certifying and labelling in respect of the quality and traceability of European fishery and aquaculture products and to promote the introduction, as soon as possible, of specific EU ecolabelling for such products in order to put an end to the uncontrolled proliferation of private certification systems.

The ecocertification and ecolabelling of fishery and aquaculture products should be a process that is transparent and easily understandable by the consumer, and should be available to the whole sector without exception.

Aquaculture : highlighting the fact that aquaculture products account for a growing proportion of fishery and aquaculture imports into the EU, Members see a determined policy of supporting and developing sustainable aquaculture, with a reduced environmental impact, in the EU as one of the key aspects of a strategy to reduce dependence on fishery and aquaculture imports, stimulate economic activity in the EU and offer a more plentiful and varied supply in response to the rapidly rising demand.

2010/06/02
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2010/05/26
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2010/05/03
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2010/04/19
   EP - JADOT Yannick (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2009/12/18
   EP - CADEC Alain (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in PECH
2009/12/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament

Documents

Activities

Votes

Rapport CADEC A7-0207/2010 - RÉSOLUTION #

2010/07/08 Outcome: +: 374, -: 13, 0: 11
DE IT FR PL RO NL GB ES PT DK BE CZ BG FI LV HU LT SK AT IE LU SI MT EE CY SE
Total
64
46
43
30
23
18
34
13
14
12
11
11
9
8
7
7
6
6
7
5
4
4
2
2
1
11
icon: PPE PPE
155

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

1

Austria PPE

2

Ireland PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
96

Netherlands S&D

3

Belgium S&D

2

Bulgaria S&D

2

Finland S&D

1

Latvia S&D

1

Hungary S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

1

Austria S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Sweden S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
43

Spain ALDE

1
3

Belgium ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1

Lithuania ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
32

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
21

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Latvia GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1
icon: ECR ECR
18

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1
icon: NI NI
17

France NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (1)

3

Belgium NI

2

Bulgaria NI

1

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

Austria NI

Abstain (1)

3
icon: EFD EFD
16

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

Denmark EFD

2

Lithuania EFD

For (1)

1

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
97 2009/2238(INI)
2010/05/06 INTA 22 amendments...
source: PE-441.238
2010/05/26 PECH 75 amendments...
source: PE-441.203

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE440.197
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE440.197
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE441.203
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE441.203
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE440.149&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AD-440149_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2010-0207_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2010-0207_EN.html
events/0/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/1/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/2
date
2010-06-24T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2010-0207_EN.html title: A7-0207/2010
events/2
date
2010-06-24T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2010-0207_EN.html title: A7-0207/2010
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100708&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20100708&type=CRE
events/5
date
2010-07-08T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2010-0287_EN.html title: T7-0287/2010
summary
events/5
date
2010-07-08T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2010-0287_EN.html title: T7-0287/2010
summary
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 150
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 052
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
rapporteur
name: CADEC Alain date: 2009-12-18T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
date
2009-12-18T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: CADEC Alain group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
rapporteur
name: JADOT Yannick date: 2010-04-19T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
date
2010-04-19T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: JADOT Yannick group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2010-207&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2010-0207_EN.html
docs/4/body
EC
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2010-207&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2010-0207_EN.html
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-287
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2010-0287_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2009-12-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2010-04-19T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: JADOT Yannick body: EP responsible: True committee: PECH date: 2009-12-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Fisheries rapporteur: group: PPE name: CADEC Alain
  • date: 2010-06-22T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2010-04-19T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: JADOT Yannick body: EP responsible: True committee: PECH date: 2009-12-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Fisheries rapporteur: group: PPE name: CADEC Alain type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2010-06-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2010-207&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0207/2010 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2010-07-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=18621&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100708&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-287 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0287/2010 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
commission
  • body: EC dg: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries commissioner: DAMANAKI Maria
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
date
2009-12-18T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: CADEC Alain group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
INTA
date
2010-04-19T00:00:00
committee_full
International Trade
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: JADOT Yannick
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
date
2010-04-19T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: JADOT Yannick group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
PECH
date
2009-12-18T00:00:00
committee_full
Fisheries
rapporteur
group: PPE name: CADEC Alain
docs
  • date: 2010-05-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE440.197 title: PE440.197 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2010-05-26T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE441.203 title: PE441.203 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2010-06-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE440.149&secondRef=02 title: PE440.149 committee: INTA type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2010-06-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2010-207&language=EN title: A7-0207/2010 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2010-11-29T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=18621&j=0&l=en title: SP(2010)6850 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2009-12-17T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2010-06-22T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The Committee on Fisheries adopted an own-initiative report drafted by Alain CADEC (EPP, FR) on the arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP. The report deplores the fact that the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy devotes only a few lines to the issue of imports, and clearly underestimates the importance of addressing this issue properly for the credibility and success of the reform. Members note that EU fishery and aquaculture production falls well short of the needs of the processing industry and growing consumer demand, and will continue to do so. They acknowledge, therefore, the need to promote responsible consumption, based upon quality and sustainability rather than quantity, the need to reinforce fisheries management to promote stock recovery and the fact that imports will continue to play an important role in supplying the EU market . The report emphasises, however, the overriding need to ensure that the EU retains environmentally sustainable and economically viable fishery and aquaculture sectors , including small-scale operations, provide jobs at all stages of production, and supply safe, good-quality food. Trade and customs policy: Members consider that the EU, as the world’s largest importer of fishery products, shares political responsibility with other major fish importing countries for ensuring that the WTO trade rules respect the highest possible global standards of fisheries management and conservation . They call on the Commission to ensure that fair, transparent and sustainable trade in fish is strengthened in the EU’s bilateral and multilateral trade agreements Unable to accept the idea – promoted through the commercial policy currently being pursued – Members take the view that tariff protection is reasonable and should continue to be an important and legitimate instrument enabling the authorities to regulate imports. The report urges the EU representatives negotiating bilateral and regional agreements to require more systematically a real quid pro quo in exchange for trade concessions to non-EU countries on imports of fishery and aquaculture products, resolutely defending any offensive interests of the EU in this sector. It emphasises that the EU needs to retain control over the trade preferences that it grants to certain partners by insisting on the application of strict rules of origin based on the concept of “wholly obtained” products. Environmental, social, health and quality aspects: the committee believes that it should be one of the key aims of EU policy on fishery and aquaculture imports to ensure that imported products meet the same requirements that apply to EU production in every respect . Members are concerned that the massive influx of fishery and aquaculture products onto the Community market in an environment of unfair competition could influence the eating habits of Europeans, who, at a time of general economic crisis, could yield to the easy temptation to buy cheaper and lower-quality food products. They consider, moreover, that EU efforts to conserve fish stocks and make fishing sustainable, pursued through the CFP, are incompatible with importing fishery and aquaculture products from countries which are stepping up their fishing efforts without concern for sustainability and are only interested in short-term profitability. The report encourages the rigorous and effective application of rules to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while acknowledging the need of many developing countries for help with implementing the rules properly and combating illegal fishing. The committee takes the view that the Union must also enforce those undertakings in order to ensure that all products exported to the European Union, without exception, are from countries that have ratified the main international agreements in the field of maritime law . It demands that all the trade preferences granted by the EU in respect of fishery and aquaculture products be made strictly conditional upon the fulfilment of stringent environmental and social requirements. Members emphasise the importance of rigorously applying all aspects of EU law in relation to health standards and inspections (including food safety, traceability and prevention), which are crucial aspects for consumer protection, to fishery and aquaculture imports, including feedstuffs and feed materials. In this context, the Commission is urged to enhance its programme of third country inspections by fine-tuning Food and Veterinary Office missions. Revision of the COM: the report draws attention to the various resolutions, adopted during the 6 th parliamentary term, asking the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to carry out a far-reaching revision of the COM in fishery products to enable it to contribute better to guaranteeing earnings in the sector, ensuring market stability, improving the marketing of fishery products and increasing the added value generated. Consumer information: Members emphasise the urgent need to introduce stringent and transparent criteria for certifying and labelling in respect of the quality and traceability of European fishery and aquaculture products and to promote the introduction, as soon as possible, of specific EU ecolabelling for such products in order to put an end to the uncontrolled proliferation of private certification systems. The ecocertification and ecolabelling of fishery and aquaculture products should be a process that is transparent and easily understandable by the consumer, and should be available to the whole sector without exception. Aquaculture : highlighting the fact that aquaculture products account for a growing proportion of fishery and aquaculture imports into the EU, Members see a determined policy of supporting and developing sustainable aquaculture, with a reduced environmental impact, in the EU as one of the key aspects of a strategy to reduce dependence on fishery and aquaculture imports, stimulate economic activity in the EU and offer a more plentiful and varied supply in response to the rapidly rising demand.
  • date: 2010-06-24T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2010-207&language=EN title: A7-0207/2010
  • date: 2010-07-08T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=18621&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2010-07-08T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100708&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2010-07-08T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-287 title: T7-0287/2010 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 374 votes to 13, with 11 abstentions, a resolution on the arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP. The resolution deplores the fact that the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy devotes only a few lines to the issue of imports, and clearly underestimates the importance of addressing this issue properly for the credibility and success of the reform. Parliament notes that EU fishery and aquaculture production falls well short of the needs of the processing industry and growing consumer demand, and will continue to do so. It acknowledges, therefore, the need to promote responsible consumption , based upon quality and sustainability rather than quantity, the need to reinforce fisheries management to promote stock recovery and the fact that imports will continue to play an important role in supplying the EU market. The resolution emphasises, however, the overriding need to ensure that the EU retains environmentally sustainable and economically viable fishery and aquaculture sectors , including small-scale operations, provide jobs at all stages of production, and supply safe, good-quality food. The resolution also notes that the current openness of the Community market to exports of fishery and aquaculture products can - under certain circumstances - have a negative impact on the local economy in certain regions , especially the most remote regions in relation to selling their local products. Trade and customs policy: Parliament considers that the EU, as the world’s largest importer of fishery products, shares political responsibility with other major fish importing countries for ensuring that the WTO trade rules respect the highest possible global standards of fisheries management and conservation . It calls on the Commission to ensure that fair, transparent and sustainable trade in fish is strengthened in the EU’s bilateral and multilateral trade agreements Unable to accept the idea – promoted through the commercial policy currently being pursued – Members take the view that tariff protection is reasonable and should continue to be an important and legitimate instrument enabling the authorities to regulate imports. The resolution urges the EU representatives negotiating bilateral and regional agreements to require more systematically a real quid pro quo in exchange for trade concessions to non-EU countries on imports of fishery and aquaculture products, resolutely defending any offensive interests of the EU in this sector. It emphasises that the EU needs to retain control over the trade preferences that it grants to certain partners by insisting on the application of strict rules of origin based on the concept of “wholly obtained” products. Environmental, social, health and quality aspects: Parliament believes that it should be one of the key aims of EU policy on fishery and aquaculture imports to ensure that imported products meet the same requirements that apply to EU production in every respect . Members are concerned that the massive influx of fishery and aquaculture products onto the Community market from third countries could influence consumers' buying habits. They consider, moreover, that EU efforts to conserve fish stocks and make fishing sustainable, pursued through the CFP, are incompatible with importing fishery and aquaculture products from countries which are stepping up their fishing efforts without concern for sustainability and are only interested in short-term profitability. The resolution encourages the rigorous and effective application of rules to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while acknowledging the need of many developing countries for help with implementing the rules properly and combating illegal fishing. Parliament takes the view that the Union must also enforce those undertakings in order to ensure that all products exported to the European Union, without exception, are from countries that have ratified the main international agreements in the field of maritime law . It demands that all the trade preferences granted by the EU in respect of fishery and aquaculture products be made strictly conditional upon the fulfilment of stringent environmental and social requirements. Parliament emphasises the importance of rigorously applying all aspects of EU law in relation to health standards and inspections (including food safety, traceability and prevention), which are crucial aspects for consumer protection, to fishery and aquaculture imports, including feedstuffs and feed materials. In this context, the Commission is urged to enhance its programme of third country inspections by fine-tuning Food and Veterinary Office missions. Revision of the COM: the resolution draws attention to the various resolutions, adopted during the 6 th parliamentary term, asking the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to carry out a far-reaching revision of the COM in fishery products to enable it to contribute better to guaranteeing earnings in the sector, ensuring market stability, improving the marketing of fishery products and increasing the added value generated. Consumer information: Members emphasise the urgent need to introduce stringent and transparent criteria for certifying and labelling in respect of the quality and traceability of European fishery and aquaculture products and to promote the introduction, as soon as possible, of specific EU ecolabelling for such products in order to put an end to the uncontrolled proliferation of private certification systems. The ecocertification and ecolabelling of fishery and aquaculture products should be a process that is transparent and easily understandable by the consumer, and should be available to the whole sector without exception. Aquaculture : highlighting the fact that aquaculture products account for a growing proportion of fishery and aquaculture imports into the EU, Parliament sees a determined policy of supporting and developing sustainable aquaculture, with a reduced environmental impact, in the EU as one of the key aspects of a strategy to reduce dependence on fishery and aquaculture imports, stimulate economic activity in the EU and offer a more plentiful and varied supply in response to the rapidly rising demand.
  • date: 2010-07-08T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/ title: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries commissioner: DAMANAKI Maria
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 150
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
PECH/7/01802
New
  • PECH/7/01802
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 052
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.15 Fisheries policy
  • 3.15.05 Fish catches, import tariff quotas
  • 3.15.06 Fishing industry and statistics, fishery products
New
3.15
Fisheries policy
3.15.05
Fish catches, import tariff quotas
3.15.06
Fishing industry and statistics, fishery products
activities
  • date: 2009-12-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2010-04-19T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: JADOT Yannick body: EP responsible: True committee: PECH date: 2009-12-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Fisheries rapporteur: group: PPE name: CADEC Alain
  • date: 2010-06-22T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2010-04-19T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: JADOT Yannick body: EP responsible: True committee: PECH date: 2009-12-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Fisheries rapporteur: group: PPE name: CADEC Alain type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2010-06-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2010-207&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0207/2010 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2010-07-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=18621&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100708&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-287 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0287/2010 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: INTA date: 2010-04-19T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: JADOT Yannick
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: PECH date: 2009-12-18T00:00:00 committee_full: Fisheries rapporteur: group: PPE name: CADEC Alain
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/ title: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries commissioner: DAMANAKI Maria
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
PECH/7/01802
reference
2009/2238(INI)
title
Arrangements for importing fishery and aquaculture products into the EU with a view to the future reform of the CFP
legal_basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
stage_reached
Procedure completed
subtype
Initiative
Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
type
INI - Own-initiative procedure
subject