The Rodust (S&D, DE) report on the proposed basic regulation on the CFP – a fundamental part of the reform – has attracted over 2,500 amendments. It was up for vote in the Fisheries Committee on 9 October, but this has now been delayed until 28 November. In turn, the mid-November Plenary vote will also be postponed.
The new basic regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was originally scheduled to become legislation at the start of 2013. It is clear, however, that when this deadline passes no final agreements will have been made. To date, only the Council has made significant progress, with their June General Approach, in which key proposals concerning the recovery of fish stocks and a discard ban were watered down.
The reform process is the first major test of the new co-decision procedures on fisheries policy in the EU, and an opportunity for the European Parliament to really influence the long-term future of the EU’s fisheries, as well as the health of our seas.
It is hoped that these delays provide time for a greater depth of discussion within the Parliament. Last week’s Plenary, which featured votes on the Common Market Organisation and the overarching communication on CFP reform, found a very small majority of MEPs voted to water down the MSY target proposed by the Commission. However, several MEPs subsequently realised they had not voted as they intended and changed their position as a result, giving the “above MSY” camp a majority.
The fine margins involved in this decision and the novelty of the CFP being voted on in the Parliament have contributed to the delays that have beset this reform. However, the Parliament has a crucial role to play, and a second reading agreement with Council will be beneficial for a more thought-out fisheries policy with a long-term perspective to emerge from the EU.