Incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries; alignment of the Regulation with the TFEU (Commission delegated and implementing powers)

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Raül ROMEVA i RUEDA (Greens/EFA, ES) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004 laying down measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries and amending Regulation (EC) No 88/98.

The committee recommends that the European Parliament’s position, adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedures, should be to amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Review of the Regulation: noting that cetacean populations have dramatically decreased, while tens of thousands of cetaceans die every year in EU waters, Members call on the Commission to review, no later than 31 December 2015, the effectiveness of the measures laid down in this Regulation and accompany this review with an overarching legislative proposal for ensuring the effective protection of cetaceans.

Delegated acts: the report suggests a stricter definition of the circumstances under which the Commission may adopt delegated acts. They propose limiting the delegation of power on the Commission for a period of three years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. They oblige the Commission to report on its exercise in order to have a regular evaluation and questioning of the use of the delegation.