Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-09-11-Speech-2-643-000"
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"en.20120911.41.2-643-000"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the regulation on trade measures is a significant piece of legislation aimed at protecting our common fish stocks. Commissioner Damanaki put forward the proposal in a direct response to the overfishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands in the north-east Atlantic.
I was then appointed by the committee to oversee the legislation. From the outset, I received the strongest possible support from my colleagues. As a committee, we proposed broad and hard-hitting measures building on the proposal by the Commission.
The trialogue that followed between Parliament, the Presidency and the Commission was a success, as all sides entered into talks with a spirit of determination to reach a compromise. The compromise proves that codecision between Parliament and the Council in the area of fisheries does work and can result in a better, stronger and more effective legislation. This is a positive sign ahead of the talks on the reform of the common fisheries policy, despite the unacceptable blockage that continues to exist with several long-term management plans.
The agreed text will enable the Union to enforce measures against countries or territories that blatantly disregard the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. The agreement includes quantitative restrictions on fish imports from the stock of common interest and associated species into the EU from the country or territory engaged in unsustainable fishing practices. Significantly, the term ‘associated species’ is broadly defined in the regulation to cover a range of species other than mackerel, for example, and it is based on FAO rules.
Restrictions will apply to the use of EU ports and on the sale of fishing vessels, fishing equipment and the supplies to the country or territory deemed to be overfishing. In addition, EU vessels will be prohibited under this regulation from reflagging their vessels to the country or territory engaged in unsustainable practices. The regulation also foresees that further measures may be applied under the scope of the regulation if the initial measures prove to be ineffective.
Parliament has now equipped the Commissioner with an effective and a meaningful instrument designed to prevent unsustainable fishing practices. While the regulation may be used against any third countries, the situation in the north-east Atlantic is of immediate concern to all of us. Iceland has unilaterally increased its mackerel catch from 363 tonnes in 2005 to 147 000 tonnes in 2012. The Faroese quota in mackerel has soared from 27 830 tonnes in 2009 to 149 000 tonnes in 2012. I am extremely disappointed by the failure of the coastal states to reach an agreement in London on 3 September and I would appreciate learning from the Commissioner her plans to move the situation forward.
I would like, of course subject to time, to take the opportunity to speak briefly on the common market organisation for fisheries and agriculture products and the report by Struan Stevenson, which is an excellent basis for a final agreement with the Council.
The committee adopted several important amendments to the Commission proposal, including the principles of minimisation and avoidance in the first instance and the landing of discarded fish. The committee also adopted clear and understandable labelling on fisheries products. Unfortunately, I do not have time to speak on the other reports. Suffice to say that I congratulate the rapporteurs for their excellent work."@en1
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