PURPOSE: to provide autonomous Union tariff quotas for imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands from 2021 to 2027.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: Council Regulation 1412/2013 provides for autonomous tariff quotas (0% duty) for 30 000 tonnes of imports of fisheries products to the Canary Islands for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. The measures are justified because the Canary Islands’ exceptional geographical situation in relation to the sources of supply of fishery products, which are essential for domestic consumption, generates costs that are a severe burden for this sector.

The current tariff quotas expire on 31 December 2020. The Commission considers that the opening of tariff quotas similar to those established by Regulation (EU) No 1412/2013 for certain fishery products is justified, as these quotas would cover the needs of the Canary Islands' domestic market, while ensuring that flows of duty-free imports into the Union remain predictable and clearly identifiable.

CONTENT: with the aim of giving a long-term perspective to economic operators to reach a level of activity which stabilises the economic and social environment in the Canary Islands, the Commission proposal renews the current legislative act Council Regulation (EU) No 1412/2013 which expires at the end of 2020 by extending, for a further period from 2021 to 2027, the autonomous tariff quota regime of the Common Customs Tariff duties for certain goods as detailed in the Annex to this Regulation.

The fishery products for which the suspension is granted shall be granted exclusively for products intended for the Canary Islands' domestic market.

The proposal confers implementing powers on the Commission to temporarily withdraw the suspension in case of a deflection of trade.

By 30 June 2026, the competent Spanish authorities shall submit a report to the Commission on the implementation of the measures foreseen. The Commission shall examine the impact of those measures and, taking into account the findings of the report, submit any relevant proposals for the period after 2027.