Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

RemovedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

RemovedThe Rapporteur recognises the efforts done by the Commission within GFCM to achieve a level playing field in the Mediterranean. These efforts have contributed to fostering a better culture of compliance among all contracting parties. Additionally, the Rapporteur commends the enhanced role of EFCA in coordinating control and inspection activities by Member States on the basis of international control and inspection programmes. However, the Rapporteur emphasises that any progress made in decreasing overfishing in the Mediterranean is largely due to the EU fleet's commitment to reducing its fishing effort. The emergence of countries from North Africa and the Near East in the exploitation of shared fisheries has led to ecological and socio-economic effects that are not reflected well enough in GFCM decisions. In the view of the Rapporteur, the GFCM should be the instrument to safeguard European fisheries' interests in the Mediterranean.

RemovedOver the past twenty years, the Euro-Mediterranean fishing sector has seen a decline in fleet size and fishing effort, resulting in reduced employment opportunities. Effort-reduction policies have resulted in a noticeable decrease in both the volume and value of production across all sectors. Additionally, several factors have contributed to this negative trend in the European fishing sector, including economic challenges (such as rising energy costs and the impacts of COVID-19), social issues (like difficulties in finding skilled workers), and ecological factors (including increased fishing effort from non-EU Mediterranean countries, climate change, and the presence of invasive alien species).

RemovedAgainst this backdrop, GFCM should step up its efforts to defend the European fishing sector, paying particular attention to employment while ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources. The Rapporteur believes the recommendations must be strictly transposed into EU law and regrets that the Commission has proposed some amendments that go beyond the scope of the GFCM recommendation, imposing additional restrictions on Member States that won't apply to other GFCM contracting parties (e.g. Albania and Montenegro). Apart from potentially damaging the Union's reputation as a leader in sustainability on the global stage, it also creates significant legal uncertainty for EU operators in the Mediterranean Sea. The Commission must ensure complete transparency in its negotiations and, especially, ensure a level playing field between EU operators and other contracting parties of the GFCM.

RemovedAdditionally, the Rapporteur expresses her disappointment regarding the absence of the decisions made by GFCM in 2023 from the proposal. While she appreciates the Commission's informal support in addressing this matter, she would have preferred that these recommendations had been included in the Commission's initial proposal. The Rapporteur also raises concerns that the Commission is proposing to implement GFCM recommendations that date back to 2021 and 2022, meaning that the Union has not been complying with its international obligations for nearly four years. To ensure alignment with the most recent GFCM decisions, the Rapporteur has decided to include the 2023 recommendations in her amendments, noting that this is critical for maintaining the Union’s credibility on the international stage.

RemovedThe Rapporteur, therefore, strongly urges the Commission to submit any future proposal for transposing recommendations from regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) within a maximum of six months from the date of their adoption at the RFMO. Notably, it has not yet been six months since the last GFCM session in November 2024. The Commission must continue on its path to ensure complete transparency in sharing its positions concerning negotiations within GFCM. The Rapporteur looks forward to receiving the Commission's proposal for the 2024 recommendations, following their legal examination.