European Commission
Damanaki

Commissioner Damanaki attended the conference Shaping the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, organised by the European Parliament Intergroup “Climate change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”. For the first time as co-legislator, the European Parliament will play a key role regarding the final outcome of a reformed Common Fisheries Policy and, at the event, the Members of the European Parliament responsible for scrutinising the Commission proposals outlined their views.

Presenting the proposals, Commissioner Damanaki stated: "Sustainability -in all its dimensions: environmental, economic and social- is the key objective of the proposals we put forward to reform the Common Fisheries Policy". She also underlined the urgency of the debate: "The protection of our seas and coasts is an urgent matter. We have to act now. We have to avoid depleting stocks to a point of no return any way we can. The debate in the Council is going very far and I count on the European Parliament to come forward with its ideas."

More

On Tuesday 6 February, the EU and Greenland have agreed on a new 3-year Protocol to implement the EU/Greenland Fisheries Partnership Agreement, which will enter into force on 1 January 2013.

Both Parties expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations, which have taken almost one year to conclude. Commissioner Maria Damanaki underlined that "This is a very good agreement, soundly founded on the precautionary approach and best available scientific advice."

More

Commissioner Damanaki met representatives of Europêche, the Association of National Organisations of Fishery Enterprises in the European Union, to listen their views on the main issues of the proposals for the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Commissioner Damanaki highlighted that "we need a regionalised implementation process, where stakeholders get a possibility for input and the policy-makers can finally use their expertise." She referred to the example of discards: "We need a clear commitment to end discarding with a fixed timeline; once we have this, the fishing industry - together with other stakeholders and the Member States - can find the best solutions fishery by fishery, in a regionalised approach."

Commissioner Damanaki then underlined that "If we manage to bring back European fisheries on to the sustainability track soon, and if we ensure a better balance between capacity and resources, this will benefit the industry - and economic success is a pre-condition for securing the future of jobs." And she added: "I am very well aware that these policies need a stimulus and that is why in the proposed European Maritime and Fisheries Fund we want to promote this transition".

More

The Commission is generally satisfied with the outcome of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) preparatory conference, which concluded on 3 February in Santiago, Chile.

The renewal of the Interim Measures for the jack mackerel stock for 2012 was the main issue on the agenda. Oliver Drewes, spokesperson of Commissioner Maria Damanaki, commented: "It is important to have agreed to follow the precautionary approach in line with scientific advice for the South Pacific jack mackerel stock. However, the Commission is concerned of the lack of cooperation of certain partners, which risks to undermine the general effort deployed from all other Participants in the fishery for the conservation and management of stock."

More

HRH the Prince of Wales launched his International Sustainability Unit Marine Programme. Commissioner Damanaki has been invited to respond and addressed the need for reforming the EU Common Fisheries Policy, to meet the challenges identified by the Programme. Also Adriana Giudice Alva (Chief Executive Officer, Austral group), David Nusbaum (Chief Executive, WWF UK), Elizabeth Thompson (Executive Coordinator of UNCSD Rio+20) and the UK Parliamentary Under Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon MP intervened at the event.

More

Commissioner Maria Damanaki met today representatives of the European Transport Federation. The meeting focussed mainly on the socio-economic aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy reform, in particular on employment in the harvesting sector, on the contribution that the future European Maritime and Fisheries Fund can provide to help the transition towards viable fishing activities and on other possible ways to improve working conditions for fishermen, self-employed and employees alike.

Commissioner Damanaki pointed out that the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will pay particular attention to small scale fishermen and on the communities depending on fisheries. It will, in particular, focus on integrated local development and hence at promoting employment opportunities, within and beyond the fisheries sector.

More