2022/2059(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Citation 3 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 3 May 2022 entitled ‘Toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors’,

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Citation 4 d (new)

– having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 16 September 2021 on ‘Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of workers to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities’,

Amendment 11 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Citation 4 e (new)

– having regard to the publication of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) of 26 September2019 entitled ‘Social data in the EU fisheries sector (STECF-19-03)’,

Amendment 12 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Citation 4 f (new)

– having regard to the Ministerial Declaration on an action plan for small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, signed in Malta on 26 September 2018 by 18 countries and the European Union, which sets the target of ensuring long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability for small-scale fisheries within the next decade (2018-2028) through concrete and coherent measures to address challenges and reinforce opportunities,

Amendment 13 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Citation 4 g (new)

– having regard to the 2018 study by the Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD) entitled ‘Relative Effects of Fisheries Support Policies’,

Amendment 14 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Citation 4 h (new)

– having regard to the Fisheries Committee study entitled ‘Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on EU fisheries and aquaculture’ of July 2021,

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital A (new)

A. whereas, according to Special Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC), the Mediterranean is one of the major reservoirs of marine and coastal biodiversity, with 28% of endemic species, 7.5% of the world’s marine fauna and 18% of its marine flora;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital B (new)

B. whereas the Mediterranean basin is home to over 150 million inhabitants, including numerous fishing communities; whereas 84 % of the fishing fleet is small- scale and artisanal; whereas the fisheries sector represents one million direct and indirect jobs;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Recital C (new)

C. whereas the Commission proposed in its 2030 biodiversity strategy to have at least 30 % of the sea area in the EU protected; whereas according to the Mediterranean Protected Areas Network (MedPAN) 8.33 % of the Mediterranean Sea is currently under protection status;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Recital D (new)

D. whereas the Mediterranean basin is warming 20% faster than the global average, with the occurrence of marine heatwaves doubling since the 1980s; whereas Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) estimates that this could lead to the local extinction of up to 50 % of commercial fish and marine invertebrates by 2050;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Recital E (new)

E. whereas, according to the latest General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) report on the state of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries (2020), the proportion of overfished stocks decreased from 88 % in 2014 to 75 % in 2018;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Citation 3 b (new)

– having regard to the FAO report entitled ‘The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2022’,

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Recital F (new)

F. whereas marine litter is a major concern in the Mediterranean, with micro plastics concentration in the Mediterranean reaching a record level of 1.25 million fragments per km2, making the Mediterranean one of the most polluted seas in the world; whereas fisheries both contributes to and suffers from this situation;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Recital G (new)

G. whereas an integrated and sustainably-managed blue economy strategy, bringing together such activities as shipping, seagoing passenger transport, fisheries, energy generation, ports, shipyards, coastal tourism and land-based aquaculture, has the potential to address the multidimensional environmental challenges the Mediterranean is facing, while providing decent jobs and preserve the livelihood of local communities, contribute to food security and underpin the green transition of the broader Mediterranean area;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Recital H (new)

H. whereas such a strategy requires adequate maritime multilevel governance, allowing countries and regions across the Mediterranean sea to coordinate action, develop policy tools more effectively and maximise the use of funding and financial instruments;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Recital I (new)

I. whereas the Cohesion Funds should support activities that respect the climate and environmental standards and priorities of the Union and do no significant harm to environmental objectives, as enshrined in the horizontal principles of the Common Provision Regulation;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Recital J (new)

J. whereas Member States should apply an ecosystem-based approach to Maritime Spatial Planning, including a robust Strategic Environmental Assessment that considers the cumulative impacts of all maritime activities, climate change, the precautionary principle, sensitivity mapping, and including active stakeholder engagement, consistently with the EU Green Deal climate and biodiversity goals;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Recital K (new)

K. whereas 73% of commercial stocks in the Mediterranean are fished outside biologically sustainable limits;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Recital L (new)

L. whereas fishing pressure has decreased in the Mediterranean by on average 21% in the last decade and, for certain priority species by as much as 75%; whereas the effects of this reduction are starting to show in the increased biomass of some stocks;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Recital M (new)

M. whereas increased pollution from human activities, habitat degradation, the introduction of non-indigenous species, overfishing and the impacts of climate- driven changes on the marine environment and ecosystems risk compromising the sustainability of Mediterranean fisheries;

Amendment 28 #

Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT

Draft opinion
Recital N (new)

N. whereas providing social security benefits for fishers, especially small-scale fisheries, is key in ensuring the resilience of the sector and the transition towards more sustainable fisheries;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Recital O (new)

O. whereas there have been changes in water temperatures in recent years, with these increasing significantly in the Mediterranean, which is impacting strongly on fish stocks and on the health of the seas;

Amendment 3 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Citation 3 c (new)

– having regard to the MedFish4Ever Ministerial Declaration of the Mediterranean coastal states, adopted in Valletta, Malta, on 30 March 2017,

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Recital P (new)

P. whereas there is a need to ensure that the possible and necessary exploitation of the many other assets of the maritime space – energy, mining, nautical or tourist activities, and even offshore aquaculture, among others – does not undermine the guarantee of fishers’ historic rights of access to exploitation of the sea;

Amendment 31 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Recital Q (new)

Q. whereas the EMFAF Regulation imposes an obligation on the Member States to take into account the specific needs of small-scale coastal fishing when carrying out the analysis of the situation in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats referred to in the Regulation;

Amendment 32 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Recital R (new)

R. whereas the Mediterranean is an enclosed sea and the status of the water and the ecosystems depends not only on the behaviour of Community operators but on the joint policies of all the countries bordering it, which share the same sea basin;

Amendment 33 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Recital S (new)

S. whereas women play an important role in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, and whereas there is a need to increase their visibility and ensure equal access to employment in the sector, as well as appropriate legal recognition;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Welcomes the renewed political impetus in recent years to alleviate the growing environmental degradation of the Mediterranean and enable a sustainable blue economy strategy, as illustrated inter alia by EU and international initiatives such as: the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood, WestMed, EUSAIR, Interreg MED, BLUEMED, MedFish4Ever, the UfM’s Blue Economy Working Group, and the Regional Action Plan on marine litter management in the Mediterranean;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Commends the invaluable contribution of the GFCM towards achieving a fully sustainable management of maritime resources, including through its IUU Plan of Action and its Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea; regrets that not all of the management recommendations adopted by the GFCM are followed through by its member parties;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1b. Regrets that these numerous initiatives are yet to fully bear fruits, as the environmental prospects for the Mediterranean remain bleak; agrees with the State of Environment and Development in Mediterranean (SoED) 2020 report conclusion that “to avoid projected failures [...] current trajectories must urgently be corrected”;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)

-1c. Remains in particular extremely concerned about the very slow rate of progress on overfishing in the Mediterranean; furthermore fears that further deteriorations of the maritime environment in the Mediterranean, as projected, would hit coastal and fishing communities the hardest, and hamper the future sustainable development of the entire EU;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)

-1d. Recalls that the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years prompted by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, and remains extremely fragile to this date;

Amendment 39 #

Raffaele STANCANELLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the development of the blue economy in the Mediterranean will inevitably increase competition for the use of marine and coastal space and resources; calls for the full deployment of ecosystem- based integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and maritime spatial planning (MSP) as tools to avoid conflicts and situations where fisherman face danger when carrying on their activities owing to the completely arbitrary application of territorial water limits, and therefore to promote harmonious and sustainable development across the Mediterranean;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Citation 3 d (new)

– having regard to Directive (EU) 2014/89 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning,

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Sstresses that the development of the blue economy in the Mediterranean will inevitably increase competition for the use of space and marine and coastal ~~spa~~resources and ~~resources~~calls, in this regard, for the views of all stakeholders in the blue economy to be taken into account; calls for the full deployment of ecosystem- based integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and maritime spatial planning (MSP) as tools to avoid conflicts and promote harmonious sustainable development across the Mediterranean;

Amendment 41 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the development of the blue economy in the Mediterranean could bring many benefits and opportunities to develop local economies; points out however that the development will inevitably also increase competition for the use of marine and coastal space and resources; calls for the full deployment of ecosystem- based integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and maritime spatial planning (MSP) as tools to avoid conflicts and promote harmonious sustainable development across the Mediterranean;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the development of the blue economy in the Mediterranean will inevitably increase competition for the use of marine and coastal space and resources; calls for the full deployment of ecosystem- based integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and maritime spatial planning (MSP) as tools to avoid conflicts and promote harmonious sustainable development across the Mediterranean, while not forgetting the various socio-economic needs of coastal communities;

Amendment 43 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the development of the blue economy in the Mediterranean will inevitably increase competition for the use of marine and coastal space and resources; calls for the full deployment of ecosystem- based integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and maritime spatial planning (MSP) as tools to avoid conflicts and promote harmonious sustainable development across the Mediterranean that develops within ecological limits with full respect for the planetary boundaries;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)

Highlights that Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is key in ensuring participation of all stakeholders to decisions concerning the use and protection of the marine environment; highlights that MSP is a key tool to ensure the participation of small- scale fishers in the decision-making process;

Amendment 45 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Stresses the importance of protecting jobs in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, so that decisions that are overly protective of resources do not have an excessive impact on those working on board or on fishing enterprises;

Amendment 46 #

Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Regrets that most EU Member States overlooking the Mediterranean have not adopted Maritime Spatial Plans which are necessary to ensure that marine space is used in a sustainable manner and that all stakeholders are involved in its management; Calls on the Commission to follow up with these Member States in order to ensure a swift adoption of such plans;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points to the rising water temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea and the need to adopt measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change;

Amendment 48 #

Ladislav ILČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes, in particular, that the blue economy is experiencing an increase in new activities and competition for space, to the detriment of traditional activities such as fisheries and aquaculture;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Invites Member States to make full use of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) to design and implement local development strategies addressing economic, social and environmental needs; Calls on Member States to guarantee that FLAGs involve all stakeholders and that EU funds are spent according to objective criteria in a manner that ensures the sustainable development of local communities;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Citation 3 e (new)

– having regard to the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean’s Regional Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea,

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that in the current cCommon fFisheries pPolicy (CFP) architecture, and the funding ~~for fisher~~possibilities through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is mostly decoupled from cohesion policy, although some interlinkages can be developed on an ad hoc basis; notes that the majority of operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are small, which i, depending on Member States implementation, can pose as an obstacle tofor theirm to access~~ing~~ cohesion funds; suggests that efforts should be made to facilitate access for fishers, especially small scale operators to cohesion funds;: notes that, beyond the EMFAF, a number of EU funds are relevant to the blue economy, including the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds), the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA), the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – ‘Global Europe’ and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF);

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that in the current common fisheries policy architecture, funding for fisheries through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is mostly decoupled from cohesion policy, although some interlinkages can be developed on an ad hoc basis; notes that the majority of operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are small, which is an obstacle to their accessing cohesion funds and, therefore, deems it necessary to facilitate their access, including through greater involvement of the responsible fishers’ associations; notes that, beyond the EMFAF, a number of EU funds are relevant to the blue economy, including the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds), the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA), the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – ‘Global Europe’ and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF);

Amendment 52 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that in the current common fisheries policy architecture, funding for fisheries through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is mostly decoupled from cohesion policy, although some interlinkages can be developed on an ad hoc basis; notes that the majority of operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors are small, which is an obstacle to their accessing cohesion funds; notes that, beyond the EMFAF, a number of EU funds are relevant to the blue economy, including the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds)~~, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – ‘Global Europe’~~ and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF);

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Believes that local management initiatives involving co-management should be considered eligible for EMFAF funding;

Amendment 54 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. 1. Takes the view that the future of small-scale, coastal and artisanal fishing depends on its long-term and sustainable profitability but also on immediate, meaningful and effective measures to enhance the profession’s attractiveness and provide training for young people and to improve operating conditions, especially to facilitate the inclusion of women on board fishing vessels; calls on the Commission, therefore, within the framework of the EMFAF and in close cooperation with Member States’ producer organisations, guilds and managing authorities, to establish and put into effect support mechanisms for small- scale, artisanal and coastal fisheries that make it possible to tackle the specific problems in this part of the sector;

Amendment 55 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recalls that small-scale fishing, especially in the Mediterranean, is a traditional form of fishing which is part of a lifestyle and provides a significant livelihood which calls for specific measures and support to allow it to grow and develop;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses that the EU lacks a tool to understand the extent of EMFF and EMFAF investments in the small-scale fisheries sector, the number of good practices funded, the delivery of concrete results or how fisheries local action groups are working towards effectively implementing the CFP; calls on the Commission to establish such a tool as a fundamental step in understanding how to scale up good practices and replicate commendable fishing methods at EU level;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses that significant socioeconomic impact of restrictions on fishing activities undermines the profitability of thousands of companies to the point of endangering their very survival, with a potentially devastating impact on employment and social cohesion in coastal areas;

Amendment 58 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Highlights that the EU fleets in the Mediterranean have suffered drastic cuts (23,5%during the last three years, since the entry into force of the multiannual plan), loss of revenue, as well as rise of costs, because of the Covid pandemic and persisting high fuel prices;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Criticises, in this regard, the fact that the new EMFAF does not allow for the modernisation of obsolete boats in order to make them more environmentally sustainable;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Citation 3 f (new)

– having regard to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean,

Amendment 60 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Recalls that, according to the 2020 GFCM report on the state of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries, the proportion of overfished stocks decreased from 88 % in 2014to 75 % in 2018, reflecting gradually improving results owed to the commitment of fishers across the region;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Stresses the importance attached to territoriality, and points out that the characteristics and needs of fishing fleets and zones in the Mediterranean vary from one country to another, but also from one region to another within the same State;

Amendment 62 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Believes that small-scale fishers and those in the most vulnerable situations require ad hoc forms of financial assistance and support, in order to help fishers enter new market segments, limit the economic and social gap between north and south and avoid undermining fishing activities and employment in the sector;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Stresses that strict conservation measures adopted only by the EU put EU fishers in competitive disadvantage vis-à- vis to non-EU operators in the region, while undermining efforts to rebuild stocks; highlights the role of GFCM in ensuring coordination in adopting and implementing conservation measures in the Mediterranean;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Highlights that factors exerting pressure on Mediterranean fish stocks and marine biodiversity include human- induced problems such as plastic pollution, fuel dispersion, habitat loss, maritime traffic and climate change and the proliferation of invasive alien species;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)

2g. Calls on the Commission to ensure that every legislative proposal is preceded by a thorough evaluation of the measures already adopted, as well as a wide-ranging impact assessment to quantify its possible socioeconomic and environmental impact on coastal communities and on the productivity and competitiveness of EU fisheries undertakings and the production chain, is supported by the best available scientific advice and proper consultation with the affected fishing sectors and is implemented gradually and in proportion to the sector’s capacity for action;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that the governance of the Mediterranean could be improved through better coordination and the setting up of a dedicated operational instrument for the development of an integrated and sustainable blue economy strategy; further notes that, in the context of the governance of the Mediterranean, the Commission needs to step up its dialogue with the North African countries so as to ensure compliance with the policies of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in order to fight illegal fishing practices and market distortion owing to the lack of a level playing field for sector operators, which puts EU fishers at a disadvantage; further calls on the Commission to encourage all third countries in the Mediterranean basin to ratify UNCLOS;

Amendment 67 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that the governance of the Mediterranean could be improved through better coordination and the setting up of a dedicated operational instrument for the development of an integrated and sustainable blue economy strategy; highlights the importance of stakeholder consultation and involvement in this regard, especially organisations representing fishers and coastal communities;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that the governance of the Mediterranean could be improved through better coordination and the setting up of a dedicated operational instrument for the development of an integrated and sustainable blue economy strategy which, in order to truly optimise the strategy, should also involve fishers as experts in the sea and its dynamics;

Amendment 69 #

Raffaele STANCANELLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 7 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Citation 4 a (new)

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund,

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that the governance of the Mediterranean could be improved through better coordination between the Member States and neighbouring countries and the setting up of a dedicated operational instrument for the development of an integrated and sustainable blue economy strategy;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 72 #

Rosanna CONTE, Annalisa TARDINO, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Reiterates its call for the establishment of cooperation networks between the governments of the Member States, fishers’ associations, workers’ organisations, wastewater bodies, coastal stakeholders, ports, NGOs and regional conventions in order to strengthen a bottom-up approach based on dialogue and inclusion and promote practical solutions for workers in the fisheries sector, with a view to ensuring a more effective implementation of the rules and providing adequate resources in areas such as the collection, disposal and recycling of marine litter;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Points out that illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing remains a threat to the survival of many species; firmly believes that the development of a blue economy can support sustainable and inclusive development and quality jobs;

Amendment 74 #

Ladislav ILČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Points out that spatial planning is one of the key instruments that lay the foundations for the long-term development of the blue economy, taking into account fisheries and aquaculture in particular;

Amendment 75 #

Raffaele STANCANELLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; promote compliance with international treaties on territorial waters; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin with greater involvement of fish workers in decision-making processes; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation and commercialisation; implement more effective measures to monitor imported fish products in order to safeguard both public safety and the competitiveness of Europe’s fish sector and the entire related supply chain and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling.

Amendment 76 #

Ladislav ILČIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to increase productivity and improve the standard of living in the fisheries and aquaculture sector; ensure market stability and the availability of food supplies; foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socioeconomic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation and commercialisation; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling.

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy that develops within planetary boundaries; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries and aquaculture sector; address plastic and industrial pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries ~~with respect to~~to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries, in particular small-scale fisheries, to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin; encourage ~~third~~all Mediterranean countries to implement mari~~tim~~ne protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation, decarbonisation and commercialisation; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling.

Amendment 78 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands, as this is already at risk as a result of rising fuel prices and the ensuing increase in fish imported from outside the EU; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation and commercialisation; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling.

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands and the most socially vulnerable areas; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation and commercialisation; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling and prevent the financial burden from falling on fishers.

Amendment 8 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Citation 4 b (new)

– having regard to Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning,

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin in order to reach the objectives of the CFP; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation and commercialisation; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling.

Amendment 81 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation, social well-being and economic growth and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands; promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters; provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation and commercialisation; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining and reskilling.

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the deployment of a macro-regional strategy at the scale of the entire Mediterranean basin, dedicated to climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the sustainable development of the blue economy; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to foster circular economy projects in the fisheries sector; address plastic pollution; protect biodiversity; enhance relations with third countries with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; contribute to solving usage conflicts through adequate maritime spatial planning; preserve the socio- economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands; ~~promote stock management measures across the Mediterranean basin; encourage third countries to implement maritime protected areas in their territorial waters;~~ provide for the sustainable economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in particular with respect to transformation ~~and~~, commercialisation and reduced dependence on imports from third countries; and support the diversification of fishers’ activities, including retraining, reskilling and gre~~skill~~ater participation of women and young people across the supply chaing.

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights that easier access to EU funding for small-scale fisheries is key to ensure the resilience of the segment and of the local communities that depend on it; regrets that often funding procedures are complex, especially for small-scale fishers; calls in this respect on Member States to provide technical assistance at the local level to ensure that the fisheries sector, and especially small-scale fisheries, are able to benefit from EU funding in order to transition towards sustainable and low-impact fishing;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Takes the view, however, that the Commission should stop promoting management strategies based solely on the reduction of fishing days, as it does in the western Mediterranean with the WestMED initiative, which prevents the local small-scale fishing sector, already brought to its knees by the skyrocketing fuel prices, from reaching the minimum break-even point that ensures its survival.

Amendment 85 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Massimo CASANOVA, Valentino GRANT, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that the Just Transition Fund is supposed to provide subsidies to support coastal communities since they are exposed to the consequences of the transition to climate neutrality;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Commission to demand and monitor the same sustainability standards for imported products too;

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Stresses that income diversification is crucial to ensure the transition to sustainable management of marine resources as well as the resilience of the fisheries sector, especially small- scale fisheries; calls on Member States to prioritise investments in income diversification projects when implementing the EMFAF and other EU Funds;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. 5. Takes the view that for a macro- regional strategy to succeed, third countries need to be actively involved, especially financially, in helping to tackle the Mediterranean basin’s multidimensional environmental problems. It is not the EU’s duty to extend funds to any third country.

Amendment 89 #

Annalisa TARDINO, Rosanna CONTE, Valentino GRANT, Massimo CASANOVA, France JAMET

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Highlights that social security benefits contribute to ensuring the resilience of the sector, especially in the case of small-scale fisheries; Calls on Member States to provide the fisheries sector, especially small-scale fisheries, with social security benefits, such as unemployment and retirement benefits;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Citation 4 c (new)

– having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 22 November 2012 on small-scale coastal fishing, artisanal fishing and the reform of the common fisheries policy,

Amendment 90 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Stresses that the protection of marine ecosystems is key to ensure a better environmental status of the Mediterranean Sea; calls on Member States to effectively implement existing legislation and use EU funding, including the EMFAF and EU Structural and Investment Funds, to ensure that all Marine Protected Areas under their jurisdiction are effectively managed and protected, with the involvement of all stakeholders, especially small-scale fisheries; calls on the Commission and the co-legislators to ensure the adoption of an ambitious Nature Restoration Law and on Member States to ensure its effective implementation;

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Calls on the co-legislator to adopt a coherent approach across policies, in line with the objectives of the Green Deal, to tackle the impact of all pressures on the Mediterranean Sea, including industrial pollution, offshore drilling, nutrients runoff, wastewater pollution and waste and plastic pollution;

Amendment 92 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4f. Considers that international cooperation plays a fundamental role in the restoration of the Mediterranean basin; calls therefore on Member States to leverage existing opportunities under the Cohesion Policy instruments and all available EU Funds to promote international cooperation supporting small-scale fisheries, tackling pollution, promoting environmental protection and fighting IUU in the Mediterranean.

source: 739.621

2022/12/15 AGRI 114 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to Directive (EU) 2014/89 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the EU committed to spending at least 20 % of the 2014-2020 MFF on climate action, declaring having spent €216 billion (20.1%) on climate- relevant measures; whereas the 2021- 2027 EU budget includes an increased target of 30% on climate action;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Welcomes the efforts of the European Union in the context of the Union for the Mediterranean, promoting the Euro-Mediterranean integration;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Welcomes the fruitful relations with Tunisia, Morocco and other southern partners of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which represents a good example of direct and diversified cooperation and partnership with shared objectives;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Welcomes the cooperation of the European Union with the African Union and other international regional organizations, which operate in the Maghreb and Mashreq;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the progress of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-regional strategy (EUSAIR) which has mobilised the member countries and their regions, third countries and their local authorities; considers EUSAIR a successful example where the Union proved to be a driving force and a vector of openness; maintains that these same principles and a similar common approach must be applied to the other areas of the Mediterranean; considers that such a macro-regional strategy can amplify and accelerate the policies necessary for the development and preservation of the available resources through the cooperation of all involved actors;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the progress of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-regional strategy (EUSAIR) which has mobilised the mMember countries and their rRegions, tThird countries and their lLocal authorities; considers EUSAIR a successful example where the Union proved to be a driving force and a vector of openness, benefitting from the ADRION transnational programme which aligned objectives support the fulfilment of the strategy’s roadmap; maintains that these same principles and a similar common approach must be applied to the other areas of the Mediterranean;

Amendment 105 #

15a. Calls on the Commission to promote the digital transformation and the use of new technologies in the fields of environmental monitoring, reporting and assessment, as well as for governance issues;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Considers that the diversity and the size of the territory concerned calls for the implementation of three distinct but coordinated strategies, namely strategies for the Western Mediterranean, the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and the Eastern Mediterranean; calls for the support of the countries and authorities concerned and for a central role of regions in their governance; welcomes the ambitious commitments made by the Mediterranean countries; considers it essential, however, that political commitment be translated to the operational level by updating environmental legislation in line with the strategies envisaged; calls both for the involvement of the competent authorities in governance mechanisms, and for the inclusion in these of other major players such as civil society, industries and training and research institutions;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to provide support for a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean taking account of its ‘new agenda for the Mediterranean’, in particular its point five on the ‘ecological transition, climate resilience, energy and the environment’; considers that the diversity and the size of the territory concerned require, in addition, the implementation of three distinct but coordinated strategies, namely strategies for the Western Mediterranean, the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and the Eastern Mediterranean; calls for the support of the countries and authorities concerned and for a central role of regions in their governance;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the Mediterranean basin is a cohesive geographical area whose inhabitants share a common historical, cultural and environmental heritage;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to provide support for a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean taking account of its ‘new agenda for the Mediterranean’, in particular its point five on the ‘ecological transition, climate resilience, energy and the environment’; considers that a Macro- regional strategy for the Mediterranean, which would entail a substantial and active involvement of the concerned regional and local authorities, has a remarkable potential in addressing the multidimensional environmental challenges of the whole basin;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Considers that this macro-regional strategy must be based on a solid and representative multi-level governance scheme involving regional and local authorities; believes that such a strategy could be used more specifically to encourage circular economy projects, fight plastic pollution, protect biodiversity, strengthen relations with third countries regarding IUU fishing, contribute to resolving use conflicts through proper maritime spatial planning, preserve the socio-economic contribution of fisheries to the well-being of coastal communities, in particular in islands, support the diversification of fishermen's activities, including retraining and conversion, promote stock management measures throughout the Mediterranean basin, and encourage third countries to implement MPAs in their territorial waters;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls on the Commission to take into account the interlinkages between environmental policies and the need for a sustainable economic development where a careful balance needs to be struck between the environmental objectives and the preservation of the economic competitiveness;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Calls on the European Council to refer the matter to the European Commission to draw up a Mediterranean macro-regional strategy, with a view to its approval under the Spanish Presidency in 2023;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)

17c. Points out that a large amount of funding can be mobilised through the EU budget to support Mediterranean projects, with NDICI, ETC, Horizon Europe, LIFE or Erasmus programmes which are also open to third countries;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas cohesion policy is a crucial tool in delivering a fair transition to a climate-neutral economy that leaves no one behind;

Amendment 13 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas sustainability should be seen as a balanced approach to bringing sustainable growth, social progress and environment together;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed sea with a very slow exchange of its waters, a rich biodiversity and a high proportion of endemic species; whereas there have been changes in water temperatures in recent years, with these increasing significantly in the Mediterranean, which is impacting strongly on fish stocks and on the health of the seas;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most overfished basins in the world and there are still significant concerns for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;

Amendment 16 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Da. whereas water resources in the Mediterranean are more and more scarce, arising conflicts from different sectors of water use (agriculture, tourism, industry, people, also biodiversity conservation);

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the density of waste has more than doubled in thirty years; whereas the improper management and treatment of waste from rivers and urban areas make the Mediterranean the area with the sixth largest accumulation of marine litter in the world; whereas several EU funded programmes have greatly contributed to reducing waste in the Mediterranean such as H2020 Initiative for a Cleaner Mediterranean, as well as actions in the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the density of waste has more than doubled in thirty years; whereas the improper management and treatment of waste from rivers and urban areas make the Mediterranean the area with the sixth largest accumulation of marine litter in the world, in particular, the damaging impact of estimated 730 tonnes of plastic waste that are dumped every day in the Basin and of the municipal solid waste generation that has been increasing across the whole region since 2014;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

Amendment 2 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the density of waste has more than doubled in thirty years; whereas the improper management and treatment of waste from rivers and urban areas, primarily in third countries, make the Mediterranean the area with the sixth largest accumulation of marine litter in the world;

Amendment 21 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ, Ondřej KNOTEK

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the ~~dens~~quantity of waste has more than doubled in thirty years; whereas the improper management and treatment of waste from rivers and urban areas make the Mediterranean the area with the sixth largest accumulation of marine litter in the world;

Amendment 22 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the impact of maritime transport in the Mediterranean, which carries 20 % of the world’s trade in an area which makes up only 1% of the world´s ocean, which through the Mediterranean, generates between 100 000 and 200 000 tonnes per year of ~~intentional~~ hydrocarbon discharges; whereas industrial activities and intensive farming result in run-off into rivers and contamination of groundwater, and contribute, along with offshore oil and gas refineries, to worsening sea pollution in the whole basin;

Amendment 23 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the impact of maritime transport, which carries 20 % of the world’s trade through the Mediterranean, generates between 100 000 and 200 000 tonnes per year of intentional hydrocarbon discharges; whereas industrial activities and intensive farming may result in run-off into rivers and contamination of groundwater, and may contribute, along with offshore oil and gas refineries, to worsening sea pollution in the whole basin;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the impact of maritime transport, which carries 20 % of the world’s trade through the Mediterranean, generates between 100 000 and 200 000 tonnes per year of intentional hydrocarbon discharges; whereas industrial activities ~~and intensive farming~~could result in run-off into rivers and contamination of groundwater, and contribute, along with offshore oil and gas refineries, to worsening sea pollution in the whole basin;

Amendment 25 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas maritime transport is an essential link in the supply chain and plays an important economic and commercial role at European and global level, necessitating a transition to greater sustainability;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas Mediterranean marine mammal numbers have declined by 41 % over the last 50 years and variou~~nd 80 % of~~s fish stocks are su~~ffering from overfishing~~bject to management and reconstitution plans; whereas the objective of sustainable fishing is achievable, provided that Member States have the political will;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Mediterranean basin is warming 20 % faster than the global average; whereas global warming will cause severe consequences that must be anticipated specifically regarding precipitation and the hydrological cycle, but also mean warming and heat extremes (in both the terrestrial and marine environment), sea level rise and sea water acidification, as described in the 2020 MedECC report; whereas meeting the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 °C of warming calls for a halving of the EU’s energy demand by 2050 compared to 2015 levels and requires the other countries of the Mediterranean area to contribute through increased cooperation;

Amendment 28 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Mediterranean basin is warming 20 % faster than the global average; whereas global warming will cause severe consequences that must be anticipated; whereas meeting the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 °C of warming calls for a halving of the EU’s energy demand by 2050 compared to 2015 levels ~~and requires~~which requires prioritization of the deployment of energy efficiency solutions and increased cooperation on energy projects with the other countries along the coasts of the Mediterranean ~~area to contribute through increased cooperation;~~ by using the region's untapped potential for helping the EU to reach its energy as well as climate targets;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Mediterranean basin is warming 20 % faster than the global average; whereas global warming will cause severe consequences that must be anticipated; whereas meeting the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 °C of warming calls for a halving of the EU’s energy demand by 2050 compared to 2015 levels and requires the other countries of the Mediterranean area to contribute through increased cooperationasures must be taken to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change;

Amendment 3 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28

— having regard to the First Mediterranean Assessment Report on Climate and Environmental Change in the Mediterranean, released by the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) in 2020,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Mediterranean basin is warming 20 % faster than the global average; whereas global warming will cause severe consequences that must be anticipated; whereas sea levels could rise up to 25 cm by 2040–2050; whereas meeting the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 °C of warming calls for a halving of the EU’s energy demand by 2050 compared to 2015 levels and requires the other countries of the Mediterranean area to contribute through increased cooperation;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas, the Mediterranean is more exposed to climate change than other regional seas, and its coastal zones face heightened disaster risks, including flooding and erosion, and the salinization of river deltas and aquifers, which endanger food security and livelihoods;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas several transnational and territorial cooperation frameworks and initiatives have been developed over the years in the Mediterranean, such as the Union for the Mediterranean, the Euro- Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly of the European Committee of the Regions (ARLEM), the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), the ~~WestMED i~~EU Initiative, for the ~~European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation (~~Western Mediterranean (WestMED), INTERREG and ENI CBC) programme~~, and the NEXT MED, EURO~~s (e.g. MED, EURO-MED, ENICBC Med, Next-MED, ADRION ~~and~~, MARITTIMO ~~Interreg programmes;~~ ), the Mediterranean Cooperation Alliance (MedCoopAlliance), the networks of Regions and Local administrations (CPMR and its Intermediterranean Commission, MedCities, Latin Arc), and Euro-regions (Adriatic-Ionian, Pyrenean- Mediterranean);

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas macro-regions play a key role in strengthening the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of the European Union and its close neighbourhood by empowering cross- border areas to address specific and shared challenges collectively, through exchange and cooperation and implementation, contributing to increased policy effectiveness and impact;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas the Mediterranean forms a border between Europe and Africa, necessitating closer cooperation with Mediterranean partners to combat illegal migration flows, for example;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas with the new Interreg Regulation for 2021-2027, border regions now have a clear financial support framework to set up joint environmental initiatives and mitigate the effects of climate change;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)

Ib. whereas there is a need for Mediterranean territories to finally have an operational instrument, such as a macro regional strategy, enabling them to develop and implement a concrete action plan and joint projects in response to common priorities identified in existing frameworks such as the UfM, ARLEM, etc.;

Amendment 37 #

J. whereas Member States should apply an ecosystem-based approach to Maritime Spatial Planning, including a robust Strategic Environmental Assessment that considers the cumulative impacts of all maritime activities, climate change, the precautionary principle, sensitivity mapping, active stakeholder engagement, consistently with the EU Green Deal climate and biodiversity goals;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas, as highlighted by several reports the adverse effects of climate change are often felt more keenly by women than men as a result of systemic gender discrimination and societal expectations related to gender roles;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the Union is responsible for half of the Mediterranean basin and cannot remain passive in the face of the multiple political, social, economic and environmental challenges confronting the area; stresses the importance of direct and diversified cooperation, for regional peace, especially in Eastern Mediterranean;

Amendment 4 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)

— having regard to the 2022 UN Report “Dimensions and examples of the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change, the role of women as agents of change and opportunities for women”,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the Union is responsible for half of the Mediterranean basin and cannot remain passive in the face of the multiple political, social, economic and environmental challenges confronting the area, starting with relations with the countries bordering the Mediterranean, which should adopt joint measures to protect ecosystems;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recall~~Believes that the Union ~~is responsible for half of the Mediterranean basin and~~ cannot remain passive in the face of the multiple political, social, economic and environmental challenges confronting the ~~area~~Mediterranean basin;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the Union is responsible for half of the Mediterranean basin and cannot remain passive in the face of the multiple political, social, economic, demographic and environmental challenges confronting the area;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls that while energy efficiency delivers a large contribution to bringing down CO2 emissions, demand for electricity is likely to increase substantially in light of the envisaged electrification of the heating, traffic and industrial sectors; considers that it is highly uncertain whether higher demand for green energy can be supplied from within the EU;

Amendment 44 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that the Mediterranean basin has been hit by an ever-increasing number of extreme weather events and natural disasters in recent years;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Deplores the continuous degradation of the environment in the entire Mediterranean basin, the loss of biodiversity and the increasing air and marine pollution, which has been caused by multiple factors;

Amendment 46 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Deplor~~Notes the continuous degradation of the environment in the entire Mediterranean basin, the loss of biodiversity and the increasing air and marine pollution;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Deplores the continuous degradation of the environment in the ~~entire~~ Mediterranean basin, the loss of biodiversity and the increasing air and marine pollution;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls for the more effective and coordinated use of existing funding instruments to meet the challenges arising in the Mediterranean basin, such as measures to improve marine biodiversity and the restoration and protection of marine habitats and species;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that cohesion policy has an under-used potential for action to provide appropriate responses to the challenges facing 110 million Europeans; believes that the measures provided for under cohesion policy must be coordinated and complementary to measures under the EMFF, the NRRP and other national policies;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 b (new)

— having regard to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (the Barcelona Convention), adopted on 16 February 1976 by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the Coastal States of the Mediterranean Region for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Is concerned about the increasing pollution by plastic and domestic waste and calls for a historic effort to limit and manage them by promoting the circular economy; calls on the creation of a pilot project on zero marine pollution in the Mediterranean, thus testing the core principles of a Mediterranean macro- regional strategy around a concrete objective;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Is concerned about the increasing pollution by p~~Stresses the role of the circular economy in relasti~~c and domestic~~on to the waste man~~d calls for~~agement and considers that a historic effort is needed to limit and manage ~~them by promoting the circular economy;~~ plastic and domestic waste by the means of the circular economy, in particularly on island territories where space and resources are limited to store and process waste;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Is concerned about the ~~increasing~~extreme urbanization in some cities in the Mediterranean basin, as well as the increased pollution by plastic and domestic waste ~~and~~; calls for a historic effort to limit and manage them by promoting the circular economy;

Amendment 53 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that water security is one of the key factors in the well-being of the Mediterranean; emphasises that in the Mediterranean eutrophication seems mainly to be limited to specific adjacent coastal and open sea areas; believes that sustainable water security measures call for integrated approaches that include water saving technologies such as new agricultural and domestic irrigation equipment, integrated via increased water efficiency, multi-scale storage systems and the use of non-conventional water sources deriving from waste-water recharge or salt water desalination; calls for a more sustainable approach to be taken to adapting Mediterranean agriculture to the scarcity of water, bearing in mind its impact on the water ecosystem;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on Managing Authorities to use Cohesion Funds to invest in technologies and infrastructure to recover materials from residual waste for circular economy purposes in cities and urban nodes on the coast and on rivers flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, in order to reduce the discharge of waste into the sea;

Amendment 55 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 56 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes that the European shores of the Mediterranean suffer from degraded environmental standards compared to the shores of Northern Europe (especially in port cities that do not benefit from the protection of emission control areas to reduce airborne emissare naturally interconnected with the shores of non-EU countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and must contribute to its protections);

Amendment 57 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes with concern, that the European shores of the Mediterranean suffer from degraded environmental standards compared to the shores of Northern Europe (especially in port cities that do not benefit from the protection of emission control areas to reduce airborne emissions);

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Considers that environmental problems are cross-cutting and complex, such that each entity, region or state acting alone can only provide partial solutions, and that it is necessary to broaden the common approach, including by involving third countries, to embrace the whole Mediterranean area;

Amendment 59 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Considers that environmental problems are cross-cutting and complex, such that each entity, region or state acting alone can only provide partial solutions, and that it is necessary to broaden ~~the~~an integrated and common approach to embrace the whole Mediterranean area;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 a (new)

— having regard to the PETI Mission Report following the fact-finding visit to the Mar Menor (Murcia), Spain, of 23- 25 February 2022, in relation to the environmental deterioration of Mar Menor,

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Considers it essential to establish a system of up-to-date information on investments made in the Mediterranean area in order to monitor the environmental effectiveness of the funding involved;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that a dynamic of cooperation set in motion by the Union and its Member States and Regions can have a knock-on effect on the whole basin; recalls that direct and shared management programmes as European Territorial Cooperation ones represent a major opportunity to facilitate an alignment of objectives, funds and projects;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that a dynamic of cooperation set in motion by the Union and its Member States and Regions, and with the opposite African coastal area, can have a knock-on effect on the whole basin;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Takes note that expenditure for the EU’s southern and eastern neighbourhoods has been increased by EUR 280 million in the 2023 budget and calls for this financial envelope to be used, inter alia, to support ambitious environmental actions in the Mediterranean;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Highlights the potential of all the Mediterranean regions ~~for the development of renewable energy sources and for a just and inclusive ecological transitio~~to contribute to the fundamental transformation towards the most carbon-free economy possible in the years ahead and a just and inclusive ecological transition, in particular by developing and expanding renewable energies, increasing interconnection of energy markets and by cooperating on the production and transportation of renewable hydrogen;

Amendment 65 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ, Ondřej KNOTEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Highlights the potential of all the Mediterranean regions for the development of renewable energy sources and for a just and inclusive ecological transition; feels that it would be worthwhile, in order to ensure energy autonomy and security, for the European Union to work towards making the Mediterranean basin a European-level energy hub;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Highlights the potential of all the Mediterranean regions for the development of onshore and offshore renewable energy sources and for a just and inclusive ecological transition;

Amendment 67 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Highlights the potential of all the Mediterranean regions for the development of renewable energy sources and for a just and inclusive ecological transition, by way of example;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines that SMEs can contribute to finding innovative solutions not only for the deployment of renewable energies, circular and blue economy; considers that further simplification should be promoted to ensure that SMEs across all European regions access Cohesion Funds;

Amendment 69 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Draws attention to the water temperature increases in the Mediterranean Sea and to the need to take steps to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change;

Amendment 7 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 b (new)

— having regard to the ECA Special report Climate spending in the 2014-2020 EU budget,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Highlights that the promotion of cross-border cooperation between countries and neighbouring regions can crucially contribute to a sustainable future for the Mediterranean maritime basins;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Highlights that digital innovation if rightly used, can provide important tools for tackling environmental and climate change, and provide responses to particular challenges facing the Mediterranean basin; underlines the need to support the development of digital solutions for climate prevention, such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through digital resource efficiency and smart innovation, but also for climate adaptation; highlights the need to develop digital warning tools to reduce the negative effects of natural disasters, such as floods, mudslides, heat waves and forest fires;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Highlights the potential of all the Mediterranean regions for the development of renewable energy sources and for a just and inclusive ecological transition which can act as a driver for social and economic innovations, while facilitating transfer of know-how and the creation of jobs;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)

8d. Underlines the key role of local and regional authorities in achieving a fair transition to a climate-neutral economy for all, with social, economic and territorial cohesion at its core, and calls for increased employment of green and blue investment and innovation under the cohesion policy;

Amendment 74 #

Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Stéphane BIJOUX, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)

8e. Notes that the deployment of offshore technologies for electricity generation in the Mediterranean to date has been relatively slow, partly due to natural constraints, while onshore wind and solar PV are more widely spread across the Mediterranean; calls for further research, development, and innovation (RDI) investments in promising technologies adapted to local conditions, as for example floating offshore wind technology;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that overfishing ~~is still~~remains a threat to the survival of many species; is convinced that the development of a blue economy can support sustainable and inclusive development and quality jobs; calls on the Commission to continue to monitor data on stocks and to carry out impact assessments before taking decisions aimed at limiting fishing quotas;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that overfishing ~~is still a threat to the survival of many species~~and destructive fishing practices (such as bottom trawling) are a threat to the survival of many species; is alarmed widespread illegal bottom trawling inside Mediterranean marine protected areas shown in recent data1a; is convinced that the development of a blue economy ~~can~~must support sustainable and inclusive development, ands well as quality jobs; with fully secured social and employment rights; _________________ 1a https://news.mongabay.com/2022/11/illeg al-bottom-trawling-widespread-inside- mediterranean-marine-protected-areas/

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that pollution, overfishing ~~is still a~~and habitat destruction, in conjunction with the adverse effects of climate change, threat toen the ~~survival of many species; is convinced that the development of a blue economy can support sustainable and inclusive development and quality jobs~~rich marine biodiversity; is convinced that the transition to a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean region will contribute to tackling environmental challenges, thus preserving the health of the sea basin and maintaining economic prosperity;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that overfishing is still a threat to the survival of many species; is convinced that the development of a blue economy can ~~support~~foster sustainable and inclusive development and quality jobs, with the direct involvement of fisheries sector operators and the representatives of coastal communities;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that overfishing is still a threat to the survival of many species; is convinced that the development of a sustainable blue economy can support sustainable and inclusive development and quality jobs;

Amendment 8 #

Rosanna CONTE, Alessandro PANZA, Elena LIZZI, Matteo ADINOLFI, Stefania ZAMBELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the Mediterranean basin, which consists of EU Member States, candidate and third countries, is the living environment of 250 million inhabitants, half of whom live in the European Union; whereas the strengthening of cooperation within and beyond the EU’s borders is of the utmost importance to address ~~common challenges such as pollution and climate change;~~ socio-economic, migratory and security challenges, environmental deterioration, pollution and climate change, the proliferation of extreme weather events, water shortages, biodiversity loss and food insecurity;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that ~~over~~IUU fishing is still a threat to the survival of many species; is convinced that the development of a blue economy can support sustainable and inclusive development and quality jobs;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Expresses concern at the invasion of the Mediterranean by alien species which can have serious impacts with serious repercussions for water ecosystems, which are being further exacerbated by the increase in sea water temperatures; stresses that the impact of climate change, rising sea levels and heatwave shocks are piling additional pressure on an already seriously affected ecosystem; calls for a holistic approach and ecosystem-based management to be urgently adopted to address these pressures and impacts, in order to ensure a properly-functioning marine and coastal ecosystem owing to its natural capital and in the interests of developing a sustainable blue economy;

Amendment 82 #