Changes from plenary report to adopted text

RemovedDRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

AddedP10_TA(2026)0281

ChangedonGeneral theFisheries proposalCommission for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisionsMediterranean for(GFCM): fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area

Removed(COM(2024)0183 – C100006/2024 – 2024/0098(COD))

AddedCommittee on Fisheries

AddedPE765.292

AddedEuropean Parliament legislative resolution of 15 September 2026 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area (COM(2024)0183 – C10-0006/2024 – 2024/0098(COD))

▸5 unchanged paragraphs

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2024)0183),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C10-0006/2024),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Changed– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,Committee of 10 July 2024 ,

Added– having regard to the provisional agreement approved by the committee responsible under Rule 75(4) of its Rules of Procedure and the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 29 April 2026 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

▸5 unchanged paragraphs

– having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A10-0150/2025),

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Change 1

RemovedRecital 1: (1) The Agreement for the establishment of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (“the GFCM Agreement”) provides an appropriate framework for multilateral cooperation to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilisation of living marine resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea at levels which are considered sustainable and at low risk of collapse, and which are consistent with the best scientific advice available and take into account regularly reviews of the socioeconomic aspects of the fishing industry.

AddedP10_TC1-COD(2024)0098

RemovedRecital 3: (3) Recommendations adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) are binding on its contracting parties. Those recommendations are thus binding on the Union and should therefore be implemented into Union law in such a way as to ensure a level playing field for Union operators vis-à-vis operators from other GFCM contracting parties, unless the recommendations are already covered by existing regulations. The Union is to ensure that Union fishing activities outside Union waters are based on the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law, while promoting fair competition between Union operators and third-country operators. GFCM Recommendations must therefore be strictly transposed, in order to establish a level playing field for all operators, without burdening them beyond the legal obligations set by the GFCM recommendations.

AddedPosition of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 15 September 2026 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2026/… of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 on certain provisions for fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area

RemovedRecital 3 a (new): (3a) It is important for the Union to implement its international obligation in a timely and correct manner in order to provide predictability to the operators and to ensure that the Union is a reliable international partner. To achieve this, it is of high importance that the relevant Union institutions work together effectively in a well-functioning cooperation, to ensure a strong negotiating positions that after adoption at the GFCM can be swiftly implemented into Union law. Reduction of the current delay of transposition of the Union’s international obligations must be tackled in a more expeditious manner.

AddedTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

RemovedRecital 4 a (new): (4a) In order to enhance the coherence and efficiency of measures in relation to European eel (Anguilla anguilla) adopted by the GFCM, these rules should be seen together with other Union regulations also covering the freshwater part of the life cycle of European eels, including in transitional and brackish waters, such as lagoons and estuaries, in accordance with Article 10(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC, together with provisions set in Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel.

AddedHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) thereof,

RemovedRecital 13: deleted

AddedHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

RemovedRecital 14: deleted

AddedAfter transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

RemovedRecital 23 a (new): (23a) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/16 on a long-term management plan for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea, repealing Recommendations GFCM/42/2018/1 and GFCM/45/2022/1.

AddedHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,

RemovedRecital 23 b (new): (23b) At its annual session in 2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/2 on long-term measures for the sustainable exploitation of red coral, amending Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/4 and repealing Recommendations GFCM/45/2022/2 and GFCM/46/2023/13.

AddedActing in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

RemovedRecital 23 c (new): (23c) At its annual session in 2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/3 on the adoption of additional remedial measures for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 1–3), amending Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3;

AddedWhereas:

RemovedRecital 24 a (new): (24a) At its annual session in 2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/5 on the implementation of a fishing effort regime for key demersal stocks in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17 and 18) in 2025, stemming from Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5.

Added(1) The Agreement for the establishment of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (“the GFCM Agreement”) provides a framework for multilateral cooperation to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilisation of living marine resources in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea at levels which are considered sustainable and at low risk of collapse, which are based on the best scientific advice available, and which take into account regular reviews of the economic and social aspects of the fishing industry.

RemovedRecital 25 a (new): (25a) At its annual session in 2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/6 on the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Otranto Channel (geographical subarea 18), stemming from Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5 and Resolution GFCM/44/2021/3.

Added(2) The Union, as well as Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Romania and Slovenia, are Contracting Parties to the GFCM Agreement.

RemovedRecital 26 a (new): (26a) Operators may receive financial support from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund to equip themselves with remote electronic monitoring systems pursuant to Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139.

Added(3) Recommendations adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) are binding on its Contracting Parties. The GFCM recommendations are thus binding on the Union and should therefore be implemented into Union law in such a way as to ensure a level playing field for Union operators vis-à-vis operators from other GFCM Contracting Parties, unless those recommendations are already covered by existing Union provisions. The Union is to ensure that Union fishing activities outside Union waters are based on the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law, while promoting fair competition between Union operators and third-country operators. The GFCM recommendations must therefore be strictly transposed, in order to establish a level playing field for all operators, without burdening them beyond the legal obligations set by those recommendations.

RemovedRegulation (EU) No 2023/2124

Added(4) It is necessary to ensure that the recommendations adopted by the GFCM are fully and in a timely manner implemented into Union law, thereby enabling the Union to fulfil its international obligations as a reliable international partner, and to ensure their uniform and effective implementation within the Union, providing clarity and predictability for operators of Union fishing vessels.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 10: (10) “Designated landing point” means ports, or places close to the shore, offshore terminals and other installations for landing, transhipping, packaging, processing, refuelling or resupplying of fishing vessels, where landings, transhipments, packaging and/or processing operations of fishery products are permitted, designated by the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties under the regional scheme on port state measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities in the GFCM area of application;

Added(5) For those reasons and since the permanent character of the GFCM recommendations requires also a permanent legal instrument for their implementation into Union law, it is appropriate to implement those recommendations into Union law by means of a legislative act, ensuring legal clarity and predictability for Union operators in waters covered by the GFCM Agreement.

RemovedRegulation (EU) No 2023/2124

Added(6) In order to enhance the coherence and efficiency of measures in relation to European eel (Anguilla anguilla) adopted by the GFCM, those rules should be seen together with other Union provisions also covering the freshwater part of the life cycle of European eels, including in transitional and brackish waters, such as lagoons and estuaries, in accordance with Article 10(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council, together with the relevant provisions laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 11: (11) “Catch certificate” means an official document accompanying a consignment and validated by the competent authority, allowing to pass accurate and verifiable information concerning fishery products throughout the supply chain;

Added(7) Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM Agreement area. That Regulation implements the GFCM recommendations into Union law.

RemovedRegulation (EU) No 2023/2124

Added(8) This Regulation should implement into Union law certain measures laid down in GFCM recommendations which are not yet covered by Union law.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12: (12) “Catch documentation scheme” or “CDS” means a system established in accordance with relevant international obligations, with the primary purpose of helping to determine, throughout the supply chain whether the fishery product originates from catches that are consistent with applicable national, regional and international conservation and management measures.

Added(9) At its annual session in 2021, the GFCM adopted Recommendation ▌ GFCM/44/2021/2 on the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Jabuka/Pomo Pit in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subarea 17), amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/3. It also adopted ▌ Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/5 on the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Gulf of Lion (geographical subarea 7) to protect spawning aggregations and deep-sea sensitive habitats, repealing Recommendation GFCM/33/2009/1.

RemovedRegulation (EU) No 2023/2124

Added(10) At its annual session in 2021, the GFCM adopted Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/9 on management measures for the sustainable exploitation of sprat in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29). It also adopted Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/10 on management measures for the sustainable piked dogfish fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29).

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2, Article 4 – paragraph 1: This Chapter applies to all fishing activities catching European eel (Anguilla anguilla), namely targeted, incidental and recreational fisheries, in all the waters of the Mediterranean Sea as provided for in Annex I, including transitional and brackish waters, such as lagoons and estuaries.

Added(11) At its annual session in 2021, the GFCM adopted Recommendations GFCM/44/2021/13 on the mitigation of fisheries impacts for the conservation of seabirds in the Mediterranean Sea, GFCM/44/2021/14 on the mitigation of fisheries impacts for the conservation of sea turtles, GFCM/44/2021/15 on the mitigation of fisheries impacts for the conservation of cetaceans, and GFCM/44/2021/16 on additional mitigation measures for the conservation of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea.

RemovedRegulation (EU) No 2023/2124