Policy Recommendations

  • In order to improve PCD, the negotiations of the fisheries agreements must be based on the contracting countrys priorities for suitable development of its fishing sector and its country as a whole (food security strategies for example).
  • Conditions and prioritization needs to be introduced for access to third countries waters; In line with the FAO Code of Conduct, priority access should be reserved for the national fleets, especially small scale and artisan fishing activity. Further access should be restricted to those operators who can demonstrate that their operations fit with EU sustainable fisheries development criteria.
  • The EU should respect the surplus principle as concluded in the UNCLOS; the EU should not fish in countries where a surplus is not proved and the prevention of overexploitation cannot be guaranteed.
  • The EU should step up efforts and provide the necessary resources to help contracting countries develop more effective national resource management systems in order to prevent overexploitation.
  • The EU should ensure better adherence to laws and codes of conduct of EU fleets. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing must be tackled.
  • In accordance to the Cotonou Agreement as well as Development Policy of the EU, the fisheries and trade policies need to be mutually satisfactory and combat poverty by supporting the development of an environmentally and socially sustainable local fisheries sector in the third countries.
  • EU fisheries subsidies, directly or indirectly need to be phased out where they are proven not to be socio-economically profitable for any of the stakeholders. The EU should raise the price of fishing licences to its fleets and technological progress of the vessels needs to finance itself through the market, in order to abort any hidden subsidy that hurts poor fishermen.
  • Fisheries Agreements must be negotiated, concluded or extended based on a scientific basis and reliable data. The reviewed CFP should define a decision-making framework ensuring that decisions are taken at the appropriate levels (maximum sustainable amount of catch and total allowable catch need to be set by scientists for example).

 

Case: Fisheries Partnership Agreements

03-09-2009 EP Development Committee concerned about FPA with the Republic of Guinea

Last December, the European Commission and the Republic of Guinea agreed upon a Fisheries Partnership Agreement. This controversial agreement was made without any parliamentary consultation. Only now - about 9 months after the agreement was reached - the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament is producing a report under the consultation procedure, with possible input from the Development Committee. Fair Politics was very pleased to read the critical opinion drafted by the rapporteur new chairperson of the Development Committee in the Parliament Eva Joly (Greens - EFA).

In the opinion Joly mentions the EUs commitments towards Policy Coherence for Development as described in Art 178 of the TEC, in which the European Community emphasises the importance of taking into account developing countries interests when implementing policies that could affect them. Consequently, she states that this FPA "could not be considered an instrument for development since its primary objective is to arrange subsidised access for EU fishing fleets into the waters of Guinea and not to promote the development of Guinean society".

Joly highlights the clear incoherence to be addressed, expresses concerns for shrimp depletion and the decrease, mode and transparency in financial support, and proposes several amendments to be included in the final report. This includes the request for renegotiation of the FPA in order to address the mentioned concerns.

Fair Politics encourages the amendments made by the Development Committee and hopes that the Fisheries Committee will leave these amendments untouched! This way the Commission and Council can take notice of the developmental concerns of the Fisheries Partnership Agreements with the Republic of Guinea.

MEP Eva Joly contributed to fair politics by drafting this opinion and raising the concept of Policy Coherence for Development in relation to the Fisheries Partnership Agreements. This contribution will therefore be monitored as fair and Joly receives the first Fair Politics point of the new parlement!

For more information on the Fisheries Partnership Agreements, please see our case study.

Monitor fair: Greens/EFA(2)