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

The European Parliament adopted by 690 to 5 with 10 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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.

Parliament adopted its position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. It amended 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 Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts In order to ensure the efficient adaptation of certain provisions to reflect technical and scientific progress. Parliament proposes to limit the delegation of power to three years from the entry into force of the regulation (which may be tacitly extended for an identical period) and to require the Commission to draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the three-year period.