EU fisheries policy to undergo changes

The EU fisheries policy will have a revamp to delegate more powers to regions, protect small coastal fleets and boost aquaculture, said members of national parliaments.

 

Research and innovation should play a key role, they agreed. However, the various speakers were less unanimous on fisheries management, in particular quota transfers.

 

The purpose of this inter-parliamentary meeting held at the European Parliament was to provide input to the upcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).  The first draft legislation is expected by summer 2011. The European Parliament will have its say on the legislation together with the Member States, while the national parliaments will have the right to object to proposals if they believe the matters covered in the legislation could be better dealt with at national level.

 

 

If the EU could have efficient regionalisation, even the complex issue of tradable fishing rights could be solved more effectively, she believed. Dr Juliane Rumpf (Bundesrat), while supporting decentralisation, stressed that the setting up of regional councils must not create an additional layer of bureaucracy.