A need to simplify the ”administrative burden” of the European aquaculture industry was highlighted in conclusions adopted by the EU Fisheries Ministers at their June Council meeting in Luxembourg.
The Commission welcomed the Council’s support for its strategy, which “will provide new political impetus for the sustainable development of the sector”.
The conclusions, with the aim to stimulate the competitiveness, sustainability and governance of European aquaculture, also called for recognition of “the sector’s needs in terms of space and to promote related research and development”, as well as improved “communication to and information of” consumers.
With no decisions made, despite earlier hopes, the Council also held an in-depth debate on the proposed reform of the control system.
A Council press release after the meeting said some points in the Commission’s control proposal, submitted last November, “still raise concerns among member states”, and that “further work is needed within the Council preparatory bodies”. The Swedish Presidency, to take over just a week after the meeting, “committed itself” to work with the Commission and member states in an attempt to bring the reform up for a vote in the Council by the end of this year.
As areas for concern, the Council press release mentioned the harmonization of sanctions, the implementation of a penalty point system and “the extension of the powers of the Commission, Community inspectors and the Control Agency”.
The Commission, in its own press release, said the debate had helped it to “understand the different positions among the Member States on some of the more sensitive elements of the proposal”. It added that it had identified a number of points where the Commission “is happy to move in the direction of Member States’ requests, including the need for a special regime for the small-scale fleet below 12 metres”.
On a third point, ministers exchanged views on a communication the Commission presented a month ago, proposing greater flexibility in changing TACs from year to year. This would enable more effective recovery measures for overexploited stocks.
The Commission underlined the urgency of efficient measures by stating in its press release after the Council meeting that, despite some good news, such as Baltic cod, “the state of EU fish stocks continues to be dire, and TACs continue to be set well above the level which scientists consider sustainable”. It added that measures to reduce discards remain high on its agenda.
Finally, Commissioner Joe Borg presented a communication recognising that all the commitments listed in a 2006 action plan to simplify the CFP have now been met. The Commission adds that further steps now will be taken with such simplification in view.