The outermost islands and the fishing industry

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Margie SUDRE (EPP-ED, F) on the outermost regions and the fishing industry. It said that the adaptation of the common fisheries policy (CFP) to the special requirements of the outermost regions (the French overseas departments, the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands) must be systematic and continuous but subject to regular adjustment. The report said that further financial help should be given to the scheme for compensation of the additional costs incurred in marketing certain fishery products from these regions. Moreover, implementation of the funds would be improved by allowing a greater flexibility between regions if it proves that the possibility of adjustment within regions belonging to the same Member State or between species has not led to full utilisation of the amounts available. MEPs also called for aid to be continued for the management of fleets beyond 2006 (the cut-off date for Community aid to fleets) and made a number of other recommendations: a fishing observatory should be established in each outermost region to monitor fish stocks and the environment; provision should be made for formal participation of the outermost regions in Regional Advisory Councils; the outermost regions must be supported in their efforts to control the increasingly serious problem of illegal fishing; the Commission should put forward a proposal to increase funding for the POSEI programmes, which are fundamental to the well-being of these regions and cover the different aspects of the CAP.�