Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-01-21-Speech-5-025"
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"en.20000121.2.5-025"2
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"Mr President, it is to be welcomed that the Commission is taking initiatives to foster closer dialogue with the fisheries organisations. It is important that the Commission knows what is happening at grassroots level. We do not need a Commission which imposes rules from its ivory tower. Consultation with the sectors is necessary to avoid issuing rules which cannot be implemented in practice. A dialogue is also necessary in order to gain a clear insight into the different interests, so that balanced decisions can be taken.
With the present draft regulation, the Commission aims to give reinforcement to the European trade organisations. There is certainly something to be said for that. It is in the interest of both the fisheries sector and the Commission to have one European umbrella organisation in place. As regards the fisheries sector, it is an important platform for heightening the Commission’s awareness of common interests and the Commission will have a better idea where it is at if the sector uses one and the same mouthpiece.
We should not, however, lose sight of the fact that the fisheries sector is pre-eminently a sector with tremendous national contrasts. Talk to any ordinary fisherperson and you will find out that, in their experience, there are no European fishing people. The European fleet consists of fishing people who are Belgian, Danish, Dutch, etc. and, to a large extent, they are each other’s competitors. The average fisherperson, therefore, has more confidence in his/her national interest group than in a European one where the office mainly consists of representatives from other Member States. We should not lose sight of this reality.
Consequently, we should not see a European organisation as a replacement but rather an addition to national organisations. The European Commission should keep the lines of communication open with these national organisations as well.
This brings me to the amendment which my Group has submitted concerning the Advisory Committee. Admittedly, the Commission has not asked us for an opinion regarding the composition of this committee, but the Commission will hopefully excuse me for giving it an unprompted opinion nevertheless.
On 16 July 1999, the Commission and industry agreed on a compromise regarding the new Advisory Committee. They came to the agreement that all EU Member States, insofar as they are fishing nations, should be represented in this committee. Conflicts of interest, as already stated, make it impossible for various members of the trade organisations to give their mandate to someone of a different nationality.
Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee has convened in its new form. Unfortunately, however, I have to note that little is left of the agreed balance. In the committee, some nationalities are heavily over-represented, whilst a number of other Member States are conspicuous by their absence. To the former chairman of the Advisory Committee, under whose directorship the compromise came about, this was even reason to refuse to chair the first meeting of the committee.
The European Commission might well argue that representativeness is more than just fair distribution across the Member States. This is true of course. There should also be a fair distribution across the sectors. What I would like to ascertain from the Commission, however, is the following: “Why did you fail to act upon the compromise of 16 July which clearly states that there should also be a balanced distribution in terms of nationalities?”
I would like to address the Commission with an urgent recommendation. Do reconsider the composition of the new Advisory Committee. If you want to establish a proper dialogue with the sectors involved, if you attach importance to creating a basis for your policy, make sure there is a representative consultative body."@en1
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