Activities of Maurice PONGA related to 2016/2016(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the management of the fishing fleets in the outermost regions
Amendments (52)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the exclusive economic zones of the outermost regions cover 2 507 537 km2, an area equivalent to that covered by of all the EU’s continental EEZs; considers, in this regard, that it is vital for reliable data on the state of resources and practices in these overseas EEZs to be available and accessible;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
— having regard to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Joined Cases C-132/14 to C-136/14 on the interpretation of Article 349 TFEU, which stresses that Article 349 allows derogations not only from the treaties but also from secondary law,
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that fisheries are crucial for thesupporting fisheries in the ORs is crucial for ensuring sustainable economic, social and environmental development ofin the ORs and are an importantse regions as the sector which creates large numbers of jobs; calls for everything possible to be done to strengthen the fisheries sector as a pillar for local development in these regions, in particular by supporting the creation and consolidation of fisheries in the ORs and replacing and modernising the fleets;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the link between food security and establishing sustainable fisheries in the ORs; insists, in this context, on the need to involve local fisheries in achieving food security for local communities, as food security in the ORs is currently too dependent on imports;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises that theEuropean rules governing this sector are complex, and that the obstacles they create areimpose, including in terms of competition law, can holding back the creation and development of fisheries in the ORs; calls for the simplmodification of those rules in orderEuropean rules to make it easier for individuals working in ORs to structure and organise themselves into collectives, as well asnd to maxoptimise the performance of EU funding and make the best possible use of fisheries assets in these regionfisheries assets in these regions by replacing and modernising the fleets;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU needs to assume responsibilities in the maritime realm of the ORs, and whereas their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) make up a large percentageroportion of the EU’s total EEZ;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the fisheries sectors in the ORs have to be seen against the background of a particular structural, social and economic situation (Article 349 TFEU), which requires specific and adapted consideration of common European policies;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) recognises the specific characteristics of the ORs andand the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which were designed to tackle the problems and challenges of continental Europe, allows for a differentiated approach in these regionfor the ORs but can only provide a limited response to the specific characteristics of fisheries in the ORs;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that the common fisheries policy (CFP) and the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) were designed to tackle the problems and challenges enof countered in the East Atlantic and the northern hemisphere, and so cannot, in their current form, be uinental Europe and so can only provide a limited responsed to solve the specific challenges and problems encountered by fisheries in the southern hemisphere and the Caribbeanracteristics of fisheries in the ORs;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the ORs began to be incorpotegrated into the CFP when the limitation on fishing effort was introduced in the 1990s; whereas, this is the reason the ORs consider themselvesare unfairly treated by the CFP and call it the ‘doubley penalty’ised (no access to previous aid for fleet renewal and the current prohibition on aid for renewal);
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that the EMFF should be used to replace and modernise small fishing boats that land all their catches in ports modified as soon as possible in order to respond better to the specific characteristics of the ORs, in particular the safety concerns for fishermen in ageing vessels, by authorising the ORs and contribute to the sustainable local development of fisheries in the outermost regionsreplacement and modernisation of the fleet in compliance with the EU’s international obligations, and in particular the requirement not to grant state aid which could lead to overfishing;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas one of the objectives of the CFP is to promote coastal fishing activities, taking into account socio- economic issues;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas a sizeable level of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing takes place in some of the ORs’ EEZ7 EEZs of some ORs7 and in the sea basins around others; _________________ 7 European Parliament Draft study on the management of the fishing fleet in the outermost regions (IP/B/PECH/IC/2016_100) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) operational programme of France.
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the ORs are affected by some of the highest levels of unemployment in the EU (up to 60% youth unemployment in some ORs);
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for the creation of an instrument dedicated to fisheries in the ORs, as is the case in agriculture with the POSEI scheme, which would make it possible to properly exploit the exceptional fisheries potential of the ORs by providing specific support measures;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to single out and promote the use of relevant EU cohesion funds, in particular the ERDF and, the EAFRD, the EMFF or the ESF, in order to boost investment in the infrastructures required for the development of local fisheries in the outermost regions; encourages, in particular, investment in projects that make fisheries jobs more attractive, projects that attract more young people and innovative projects that make fisheries more sustainable, promote selective fishing methods and help to develop environmentally responsible fisheries;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that sustainable and ‘honest’ fishing is the basis for prosperous coastal communities and contributes to food security in the ORs; insists, in this context, on the need to involve local fisheries in achieving food security for local communities, as food security in the ORs is currently too dependent on imports;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that the common fisheries policy and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), designed to tackle the problems and challenges of continental Europe, can only provide a limited response to the specific characteristics of fisheries in the ORs, that they cannot be uniformly applied to the challenges and specific characteristics of fisheries in the ORs and that they must be allowed a degree of flexibility and pragmatism or be subject to derogations; calls also for the development of a strategy for each regional sea basin tailored to the specific situation of each of the outermost regions;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the presence in the ORs of a wide variety of small communities which are highly dependent on traditional, coastal and small-scale fishing and for which fishing is often the only livelihood;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the lack of consistency between European fisheries policies and points out that EU action in third countries could seriously hinder the development of the sector in the outermost regions; calls, therefore, for more consideration to be given to the interests of ORs when fisheries agreements are concluded with third countries, including by laying down obligations to land catches in the ORs or to employ personnel from the ORs on vessels;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that marine biological resources around the ORs should be especially protected and hencethat particular attention should be paid to fishing; stresses, therefore, that only fishing vessels registered in OR ports arshould be allowed to fish;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the European Union to do more to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and to lay down specific measures for tackling IUU in the EEZs of the ORs;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that the precautionary principle should prevail as long as the balance between fishing capacity and opportunities is not evidentStresses the need to maintain the balance between fishing capacity and opportunities in accordance with the precautionary principle and taking into account socio-economic realities;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Points out that the ORs are dependent on the fish stocks in their EEZs, which are biologically highly vulnerable, and takes the view, therefore, that sensitive OR zones need to be properly and effectively protected, in particular by granting exclusive access to local fleets which use environment-friendly fishing equipment, thereby reducing the adverse impact on the zone of illegal fishing;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that in some ORs the fishing fleets are below their capacity limits set by the CFP, owing in particular to the lack of access to financing;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the fact that in its 2016 report, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF)8 could not assess the balance between fishing capacity and opportunities for all fleets operating in the ORs as a result of insufficient biological data; considers, in this regard, that it is vital for reliable data on the state of resources and practices in these overseas EEZs to be available and accessible; _________________ 8 Reports of the (STECF) - Assessment of balance indicators for key fleet segments and review of national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities (STECF-16-18).
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets the delay in the approval of EMFF Operational Programmes and consequently the late implementation of supportive EMFF provisions, which has resulted in serious financial difficulties for some undertakings in the ORs;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the specific provisions for the ORs in the EMFF, such as the compensation for additional costs – which is higher than in the previous programming period but still not enough for some ORs – and the maximum public aid intensity, which is higher than for other regions;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Observes the difficulties or even impossibility for certain fishermen in the ORs to access credit and/or insurance for their vessels, causing safety problems and economic constraints for these fishermen;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that in the ORs small boats make up a large majority of registered vessels; stresses that in some ORs, small vessels are more than 40 years old, which poses real safety problems,
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the economic multiplying effect of EU funds and support on the private sector contribution, particularly in the ORs;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Making better use of possibilities provided under the currentArticle 349 of the Treaty and the CFP
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the full application of Article 349 TFEU in the European Union's policies, regulations, funds and programmes relating to fisheries, particularly in the EMFF, in order to respond to the specific difficulties encountered by the ORs;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission when proposing delegatedislative acts in respect of costs for hygiene, health and safety-related investments and investments related to working conditions, to facilitate a holistic and appropriately tailored approach;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission when proposing delegatedislative acts with regard to the criteria for calculation of additional costs resulting from the specific handicaps of ORs, to also consider the impact of climatic and geographical conditions and depredation;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Deplores the significant level of IUU fishing taking place in the ORs’ EEZEEZ of certain ORs attributable to both domestic and foreign vessels, and in surrounding sea areas in the case of others; points out that for the domestic part, such practices also result from local food supply issues;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls for genuine consideration to be given to the interests of ORs when fisheries agreements are concluded with third countries, including by laying down obligations to land catches in the ORs or to employ personnel from the ORs on vessels;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that a rebetter structuring of the fishing sector in the ORs is needed and if necessary a reduction of the number of vessels should be considered;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that modernisation, and the development of the traditional or small- scale fishing fleet - including that which fishes for shrimps - in the ORs with the aid of public funding (European or national) is necessary, particularly because of the accelerated ageing of their vessels, which gives rise to problems with safety, compliance with European hygiene standards and efficiency, and the unsuitability of the fleet to reach the available resources or to combat IUU fishing; stresses furthermore that such restructuring will help to diversify fishing in the ORs, to improve its quality, to introduce innovation into its fishing activities and to increase efficiency; calls on the Commission therefore to eliminate all obstacles without delay in order to authorise public financing of the gradual renewal of small-scale or traditional fishing fleets - including those fishing for shrimps - of vessels which land their catches in ports in the ORs and which contribute to local, sustainable development of the fishing industry without damaging the sustainability of resources;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Requests the Member States when implementing the provision of the CFP on the allocation of fishing opportunities to consider indevote particular fishing vesselsattention to traditional or small-scale fishing, which contributes to the local economy and haves a low impact on the environment;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Advocates reconsidering the fleet segmentation basis under a potential future CFP, in order to make better use of capacity limits and facilitate developmentRecommends that the future CFP take full account of the specific features of the ORs and enable them to realise the strong economic, social and environmental potential created by the sustainable and rational development of the fisheries sectors in the ORs;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Proposes increasing aid intensity for engine replacement in the ORs where scientific evidence indicates that climate conditions and climate change have a decisive negative impact on the ORs’ fleets;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Advocates not establishing a dedicated fund for the ORs, as comprehensive resources of the European Structural and Investment Funds are already availableProposes that a specific instrument for fisheries in the ORs be established as soon as possible, modelled on POSEI for agriculture and taking as a basis Regulation No 791/2007, giving consideration to the possibility of bringing together in this specific instrument, in particular, the provisions of Articles 8 (State aid), 13(5) (budget) and 70-73 (compensation plans for additional costs) of the existing EMFF in order to ensure legal certainty of compensation plans for additional costs thanks to prior approval by the Commission and long-term financing;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Proposes that the capacities of certain segments of the fleets in the ORs be increased provided that it has been scientifically demonstrated that the rate of exploitation of certain fisheries resources can be increased without compromising sustainable fishing objectives;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recommends creating better incentives under a future EMFF to encourage young people to enter the fishing sectorwork in the maritime economy;