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

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the recommendation for second reading contained in the report by Raül ROMEVA i RUEDA (Greens/EFA, ES) on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of 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.

Following the adoption of Parliament’s first reading position in plenary on 16 April 2013, contacts were established with the Greek Presidency with a view to reaching an early second reading agreement. After one round of trilogue on 30 January 2014, Parliament and Council’s negotiating team reached agreement on the file.

The Council accepted Parliament’s idea of the Commission reviewing, no later than 31 December 2015, the effectiveness of the measures laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004. On this basis, the Commission should submit to Parliament and Council an overarching legislative proposal for ensuring the effective protection of cetaceans, including the development of measures under regionalisation.

The Commission would be empowered to adopt delegated acts in order to update the signal characteristics and the corresponding implementation characteristics of acoustic deterrent devices, to reflect the state of technical and scientific progress. The Commission would make provision for sufficient time for the implementation of such adaptations.

The power to adopt delegated acts would be conferred on the Commission for a period of four years.

As the Council’s first reading position tallies with the agreement reached in the trilogues, the committee recommended that Parliament accept it without further amendments.