<Commission> PECH Committee on Fisheries</Commission>

<Commission>{PECH}Committee on Fisheries</Commission>

PECH_PV(2012)0423

MINUTES

Meeting of 23 April 2012, from 15.00 to 18.30,

and 24 April 2012, from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 15.00 to 18.30

BRUSSELS

The meeting opened at 15.00 on Monday 23 April 2012, with Gabriel Mato Adrover (Chair) in the chair.

1. Adoption of agendaPECH_OJ (2012)0423v01-00

The agenda was adopted with the following changes:

Item 15 cancelled. Item 9 rescheduled after item 14. Voting takes place on 24 April 2012 at 11.00.

2. Approval of minutes of the meeting of:

20-22 March 2012PE 485.923v01-00

The minutes were approved.

3. Chair's announcements

See above changes in the agenda.

4. Amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea

PECH/7/06706

***I2011/0218(COD)COM(2011)0479 – C7-0216/2011

• Consideration of draft report
• Decision on deadline for tabling amendments

Speakers: Anna Rosbach, Carmen Fraga Estévez

Decision: Deadline for tabling amendments: 07/05/2012 at 12.00

5. The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy - Overarching Communication

PECH/7/07310

2011/2290(INI)COM(2011)0417

• Consideration of draft report
• Decision on deadline for tabling amendments

Speakers: Nikolaos Salavrakos, Werner Kuhn, Guido Milana, Isabella Lövin, Chris Davies, Ian Hudghton, João Ferreira, Joost Paardekooper (DG MARE)

Decision: Deadline for tabling amendments: 07/05/2012 at 12.00.

6. The small scale and artisanal fisheries and the CFP reform

PECH/7/07311

2011/2292(INI)

• Consideration of draft report
• Decision on deadline for tabling amendments

Speakers: João Ferreira, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Jean-Paul Besset, Chris Davies, Jens Nilsson, Ana Miranda, Antolin Sánchez Presedo, Guido Milana, Isabella Lövin, Joost Paardekooper (DG MARE)

Decision: Deadline for tabling amendments: 07/05/2012 at 12.00.

7. Multiannual plan for the Baltic salmon stock and the fisheries exploiting that stock

PECH/7/06684

***I2011/0206(COD)COM(2011)0470 – C7-0220/2011

• Exchange of views

Speakers: Marek Józef Gróbarczyk, Jaroslaw Leszek Wałęsa, Chris Davies, Ilona Jepsena (DG MARE)

8. The external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy

PECH/7/07309

2011/2318(INI)COM(2011)0424

• Exchange of views

Speakers: Isabella Lövin, Struan Stevenson, Jaroslaw Leszek Wałęsa, Guido Milana, Chris Davies, Ana Miranda, Ilana Malinova Iotova, Antolin Sánchez Presedo, Nikolaos Salavrakos, Dolores García-Hierro Caraballo, Emmanuel Berck (DG MARE).

9. Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean

PECH/7/06257

***I2011/0144(COD)COM(2011)0330 – C7-0154/2011

• Exchange of views

Speakers: Raül Romeva I Rueda, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Dolores García-Hierro Caraballo

9a. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006

PECH/7/07482

***I2011/0276(COD)COM(2011)0615 – C7-0335/2011

• Exchange of views

Speakers: Rachel Lancry (DG REGIO), Christine Falter (DG MARE), Jean-Paul Besset, Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, Jens Nilsson.

10. Amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1300/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a multi-annual plan for the stock of herring distributed to the west of Scotland and the fisheries exploiting that stock

PECH/7/07846

***I2011/0345(COD)COM(2011)0760 – C7-0432/2011

• Adoption of draft report

Vote: The report was adopted unanimously with 25 votes in favour.

11. Certain measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks

PECH/7/08238

***I2011/0434(COD)COM(2011)0888 – C7-0508/2011

• Adoption of draft report

Vote: The draft report was adopted unanimously with 23 votes in favour.

12. Fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Mozambique

PECH/7/08002

***2011/0378(NLE)18059/2011 – C7-0028/2012

• Adoption of draft report

Vote: The draft report was adopted by 18 votes in favour, 3 votes against and 0 abstentions.

13. Exchange of views with Lisbeth Berg Hansen, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs

Speakers: Lisbeth Berg Hansen, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Chris Davies, Ulrike Rodust, Werner Kuhn, Diane Dodds, Isabella Lövin, Jaroslaw Leszek Wałęsa, Antolin Sánchez Presedo

14. Exchange of views with Giovanni La Via, general rapporteur for Budget 2013

Speakers: Giovanni La Via, Crescenzio Rivellini, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Ulrike Rodust, Antonello Antinoro

15. Exchange of views with Keith Ashfield, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Item was cancelled.

16. Amendment of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1185/2003 on the removal of fins of sharks on board vessels

PECH/7/07848

***I2011/0364(COD)COM(2011)0798 – C7-0431/2011

• Consideration of working documents

Speakers: Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, Kriton Arsenis, Raül Romeva I Rueda, Isabella Lövin, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Chris Davies, Struan Stevenson, Christos Theophilou (DG MARE).

17. Common Fisheries Policy

PECH/7/06595

***I2011/0195(COD)COM(2011)0425 – C7-0198/2011

• Exchange of views in camera only Part I - Presentation by the EP Legal Service of a legal opinion on regionalisation of the CFP
• Exchange of views in presence of the Council and the Commission (from 12.10 to 12.30)

18. Coordinators’ meeting

IN CAMERA - please see recommendations in Annex

19. Hearing on "the feasibility of Transferable Fishing Concessions (TFC) in the context of the CFP reform"

Speakers: Ulrike Rodust, Thomas Sterner (Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden), Frederico Pereira (President of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Fisheries sector), Seth Macinko (Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island/USA ), Paul Ash (Deputy Head of Mission, New Zealand Mission to the EU), Fernando Gonzàlez-Laxe (Professor of Applied Economics, University of Coruña, Spain), Sean O'Donoghue (Federation of Irish Fishermen), Alain Cadec, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Marek Józef Gróbarczyk, Struan Stevenson, Carmen Fraga Estévez, Dolores García-Hierro Caraballo, Ana Miranda, Isabella Lövin, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Antolín Sánchez Presedo, Anna Rosbach.

20. Any other business

None.

21. Chair’s announcements concerning coordinators’ decisions

The recommendations issued by Coordinators were approved (see Annex).

22. Next meeting(s)

• 21 May 2012, 19.00 – 22.30 (Strasbourg)

ANNEX

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Committee on Fisheries

Coordinators’ meeting

Tuesday, 24 April 15.00-15.30 (in camera)

Brussels

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.Decisions on procedure

1.1. Points allocation for attribution of reports and opinions

Coordinators agreed to add the whole amount of points to each political group, according to the attached updated situation of the point system (see attached table).

1.2.Reports

1.2.1.Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on amending of Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks

COM(2012)0155

2012/0077(COD)

FOND: PECH/7/09276

AVIS: ENVI/7/09277

Report attributed to the EPP for 1 point

2.Opinions

2.1.The EU 2011 Report on Policy Coherence for Development

COM SEC (2011) 1627

2012/2063(INI)

FOND: DEVE/7/09296

AVIS: PECH/7/09298

Opinion attributed to GUE for 0, 5 points

3.Documents received for information

3.1.Joint communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee and the Committee of the Regions on towards a renewed EU-Pacific development Partnership

JOIN(2012)6 final

Committee responsible: DEVE

In case that no initiative report is prepared by the DEVE Committee on this document, the EPP will be interested in the allocation (for 2 points) of an own initiative report covering the fisheries aspects of this issue.

3.2.Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions concerning the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

COM(2012)0128

No action

3.3.Commission Decision of 10.4.2012 on the payment of the 2009 annual financial compensation under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea, repealing Commission Decision C(2009)9187 of 26.11.2009

C(2012)2001 final

No action

4."Structured dialogue" with Commissioner Damanaki on Legislative and Political priorities for 2013

• Approval of the draft PECH contribution to the Conference of Committees Chairs summary report in 2012

The attached draft text submitted to Coordinators was approved.

5.Budget procedure: "Mandate for the Trilogue on the Draft Budget 2013"

A draft letter from the Chair of the PECH Committee to the Chair of the BUDG Committee laying down the PECH priorities for the purpose of the above-mentioned BUDG report will be circulated by the Secretariat to political groups with a view to its subsequent endorsement by coordinators through written procedure.

6.Hearings

6.1.Organisation of the hearing of 30 May 2012 on the "CFP reform the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund"

The attached draft programme was approved.

6.2.Mini-hearing on the multiannual plan for the Western stock of the horse mackerel proposed by the rapporteur, Mr. Gallagher

A mini-hearing on this proposed plan will be held at one of the next PECH Committee meetings, with the envisaged participation of 2 (non reimbursed) experts on this issue (one representative of the Pelagic Rac and one representative from the STECF or from ICES), as well as of a high representative of the Council Presidency and of the European Commission.

7.Delegations

7.1.Decisions to be taken regarding the situation on the initially planned delegations to China (initially foreseen for 24-28 September 2012) and to Veneto/Northern Italy (initially foreseen for 10-12 October) are postponed to the next coordinators meeting that will take place on 21 May.

8.PECH meeting on 31 May 2012

The inclusion of an additional meeting slot on Thursday 31 May 2012 pm to the ordinary meeting of the PECH Committee was endorsed.

9.Proposal from the ECR group to prepare a letter to be sent by the PECH Chair to the Chair of the Conference on Committee Chairs with a view to raise the issue of the current blockage of long term plans at an higher political level.

The proposal was approved.

10.Notes, studies and workshops (relations with the Policy Department)

Coordinators approved to request from the Policy Department:

• an Internal Note on the definition of "overcapacity" in the EU
• an Internal Note on the definition of "small-scale fisheries" in the EU
• a list of possible items to be explored in the view of the Commission work programme for 2012/2013

11.Letter received from the newly elected Chairman of the STOA Panel, on Putting STOA's work to the benefit of the parliamentary committees"

Coordinators took note of this letter.

12.Any other business

The request by Mr Milana to invite Mr Lazarou to participate at the PECH meeting of 30-31 May, when he will present his draft opinion on the Special Report of the European Court of Auditors 12/2011, was approved.

<PathFdR>PV\899892EN.doc</PathFdR>1/20PE<NoPE>487.871</NoPE>

EN

Fisheries Committee - Attribution of reports and opinions

Situation of the point system concerning parliamentary groups

<PathFdR>PV\899892EN.doc</PathFdR>1/20PE<NoPE>487.871</NoPE>

EN

Template for a committee contribution to the summary report in 2012

Committee: Committee on Fisheries

1. Remarks on the screening of the implementation of

- (where possible) the Commission Work Programme 2012 (items listed)

- and (where appropriate) the Commission Work Programmes 2011 (items not listed)

(half a page maximum)

Committee's comments on the (non-)implementation:

- notes that the first package of the CFP reform, formerly expected in the first half of 2011, was postponed to the second semester and adopted only on 13 July 2011, and was followed , on 2 December 2011, by a proposal for a Regulation regarding the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund;

- notes that, taking into account the delay in the adoption of the Commission proposals and the length of co-decision procedures on such crucial and complex issues, it does not seem realistic to expect an entry into force of the legislative package on 1 January 2013;

- notes the persistent deadlock regarding the pending proposals on multi-annual plans for anchovy and horse mackerel, and the consequent postponement of the adoption by the Commission of a number of proposals for additional management plans until this inter-institutional stalemate has been solved;

- notes that several proposals regarding the alignment of basic legislation to article 290 TFUE and scheduled for 2011 have been postponed and not yet adopted;

- reiterates that the legislative package regarding the forthcoming reform of the CFP is the main priority of the PECH Committee for 2012 and 2013;

- urges the Commission to adopt legislative proposals on the following issues, as a matter of urgency and under the ordinary legislative procedure:

a) - a proposal on an extension of the validity of the Article 17.2 of Council Regulation 2371/2002, regarding general access rules and restrictions for the 12 nautical miles waters, in order to avoid a legal vacuum: the current basic regulation will remain in force until a new regulation has been adopted, except for this provision, which will expire on 31.12.2012; if a new basic regulation is not adopted before that date, this article will no longer apply.

b) - a proposal in order to allow the entry into force of a new technical measures framework in 2013, when the existing transitional measures will expire, addressing the shortcomings of the current situation: regulations to extend temporarily the validity of the current transitional regime were already adopted twice, on the basis that they would be transitional[1] and will expire on 31.12.2012.

A new proposal regarding this issue was often requested by the PECH Committee and

the EP[2]. The PECH Committee expresses again its concern and dissatisfaction about this unacceptable situation

- invites the Commission to play a more clearly committed and active role in trying to find a way forward regarding the currently blocked files, fully in line with the TFEU, and to present without further delay its planned new proposals for multi-annual plans[3];

- urges the Commission to adopt urgently the announced proposals regarding the alignment of the existing basic CFP legislation in the area of the CFP.

2. The committee's priorities for the forthcoming Commission Work Programme 2013:

2.1 Legislative (please limit to real priorities)

- The CFP reform package (and all related legislation, including on technical measures framework).

- Adequate financial resources shall be allocated to the reformed CFP within the framework of the new multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, in order to secure its successful implementation. Special attention should be paid to small scale fisheries sector.

- Further progress in the adoption of long term management plans, which are a cornerstone of the CFP.

- Achieving an appropriate level of compliance with the rules of the CFP and combating the IUU fishing. The EP has adopted on 17 November 2011 an important resolution on combating illegal fishing at the global level and the role of the EU, where several concrete proposals are made to the Commission in order to make further progress in the fight against this major problem worldwide[4].

- Ensuring a level playing field where stocks of common interest are shared with third countries, including by supporting and implementing EU trade measures in response to failures by third countries in order to guarantee the effectiveness of conservation efforts, in accordance to international law.

- The Commission shall ensure that Article 43 (2) TFEU is the legal basis for all its proposals with measures pursuing the objectives of the CFP and that Article 43 (3) TFEU will be strictly interpreted and not used to cover other items than the mere fixing of allocation of fishing opportunities, in particular under the annual TACs and Quotas regulations[5].

- Further progress in the development and implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), ensuring maximization of the synergies among the sectoral policies involved and a fair and proportional contribution from all the sectors affected by this policy;

- Further progress in the process of the full alignment and presentation by the Commission of an assessment of the basic legislative acts in force which still need

to be adapted, together with the appropriate legislative initiatives, in order to

complete the adaptation according to the criteria laid down in the Treaty as soon as possible.

2.2 Non-legislative (please limit to real priorities)

- The EP should be involved and immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedures related to Fisheries Partnership Agreements (FPAs), pursuant to Article 13(2) of the TEU and Article 218(10) of the TFEU, including by participating in the Joint Committee meetings envisaged in fisheries agreements and by getting access in due time and without unnecessary restrictions to the related evaluations and other relevant documents; following the review to be carried out of the Framework Agreement on relations between the Parliament and the Commission (FA) according to its point 54, the PECH Committee would like clarification and improvement of the relevant provisions of the FA regarding international agreements and meetings of bodies set up by international agreements; the PECH Committee emphasizes that participation of Members of the EP as observers in bilateral international negotiations and meetings shall be expressly recognized by the FA.