Common fisheries policy: monitoring of implementation. Report 1996-1999

The committee adopted the report by Niels BUSK (ELDR, DK) on the Commission's report on monitoring the implementation of the common fisheries policy for the period 1996-1999. The committee welcomed the openness of the Commission's report, while expressing dismay at the picture it presented of Member States' lack of compliance with their obligations under the common fisheries policy, the wide variations in the application of the Control Regulation and the resulting discrepancies in the treatment of fishermen in different parts of the Community. MEPs stressed that if fishermen perceived the monitoring and control regime as fair and equitable, they would be more inclined to obey the rules. In response to some of the points highlighted in the Commission's report, the committee called for more resources for training administrators and inspectors and urged the Commission to draw up, as guidance for the Member States, a list of sanctions which experience had shown to be effective and deterrent and to propose better procedures for reciprocal exchange of proof and other forms of judicial cooperation, given the transboundary nature of fisheries. It looked forward to the Commission's proposals on amending the Control Regulation as part of the overall reform of the common fisheries policy. �