Conservation of fish stocks: measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Pat the Cope GALLAGHER (ADLE, IE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks.

The committee recommends that the European Parliament’s position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows:

-The measures taken should aim to restrict imports of all fish and fishery products originating from a country allowing non-sustainable fishing, and not limited to the "stocks of common interest" or "associated species".

-The Commission proposal states that in adopting measures in accordance to the Regulation, the Commission shall evaluate the environmental, trade, economic and social effects of those measures in the short and long terms and the administrative burden associated to their implementation. Members consider that the Commission should ensure that the envisaged measures are not applied in a manner which would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail, or a disguised restriction on international trade.

-The evaluation report shall be made available to the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with the procedure provided for in Regulation No 182/2011 in addition to other documents provided for therein.