Activities of José BLANCO LÓPEZ related to 2015/2093(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
How to make fisheries controls in Europe uniform (A8-0234/2016 - Isabelle Thomas) ES
Amendments (20)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas there is real inequity or it is felt by the fishermen as regards the implementation of fisheries control in Europe and the need for equal and non- discriminatory treatment;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, quite apart from the powers of each Member State and possible regional variations, substantial differences exist in the application of European regulations in Member States, particularly those induced by the ‘control’ regulation, and whereas each Member State has different administrative and judicial structures;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas some Member States lack units of specialised fisheries inspectors;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) plays an effective role in the uniform implementation of the control system in spite of the limited resources at its disposal;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the discard ban has been implemented and, in practice, is unfairly harsh on fishing operators because even though the operators use tools and instruments that are permitted under EU law and use every possible means to avoid incidental catches, they may be punished for the mere fact that these catches exceed the maximum amount permitted under EU and national laws;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. underlines the diverse fields of application of the controls and the disparityscriminatory nature of fisheries controls in the European Union, given the disparity in areas of application and between different inspection sites, with some Member States organising control of equipment via the tax base and others controlling only certain links in the chain and excluding aspects relating to transport, for example;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses the need to ensure that the single market is uniform and that control requirements are complied with in an equivalent manner in the Member States with a uniform level of quality in internal and external controls within Member States and no variation depending on the border at which products enter the EU;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Recalls the Commission for the need to create the legal and operative environment before implementing mandatory rules, avoiding paradoxical situations;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that the Commission should attend to the uniform transposition of the Regulation and verify the state of implementation of existing legislation, such as by establishing a minimum percentage of consignments to be checked by each Member State; believes furthermore that control procedures should be transparent and standardised;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. SCalls for the Member States to set up teams of specialised fishing inspectors supports the strengthening of cooperation between Member States through exchanges between inspectors and the exchange of control methods, data and risk analysis;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls for the EFCA Core Curriculum to be translated and circulated widely, with the aid of the EMFF; proposes that this manual be embellished with examples of good practice employed by inspectors;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Emphasises the importance of assessing and certifying the control training initiatives provided by third parties;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Takes the view that the by-catch system actually leads to objective and total liability for fishing operators, who are held to account even if they have acted in full compliance with the law and with the utmost diligence in order to avoid incidental catches;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Holds that the general principles of European Union law are incompatible with a system in which an individual is objectively held to account over something which he has done neither negligently nor wilfully;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls for the creation of mechanisms to emphasise good examples in order to increase compliance;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Considers that the interpretation of some provisions, which include a penalty for exceeding the limit for incidental catches without even taking into account the lack of negligence or intent in having engaged in lawful conduct, clearly conflicts with the fundamental principles of the European Union, which are enshrined in Article 6 TEU, under primary law;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Calls on the Commission to lay down guidelines that can be readily applied and understood, in order to prevent unequal treatment between Member States, especially where, by reporting by-catches voluntarily, fishing operators show that they have acted in good faith and that the catches were completely fortuitous;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is of the view that the capacity of actors to investment in modern technologies compatible with each other will make controls more efficient;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Encourages the establishment of funding mechanisms to increase the use of low cost technologies to enable voluntary control and increase monitoring and safety of fishermen, especially in small scale artisanal fisheries;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recommends enforcing a control equivalent to that governing imported products on shore fishing and recreational fishing as well as on the European fleet fishing in non-EU waters and on the fleets of non-EU countries fishing in European waters; proposes to make the exchange of data mandatory as regards illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries (IUU);