EU Parliament Committee undermines any attempt at reforming fisheries subsidies

Regional Development Committee reintroduces subsidies eliminated 10 years ago.

Press Release Date: October 11, 2012

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Oceana Web | email: webadmin@oceana.org | tel.: 202.000.0000

Employment and Social Affairs Committee takes right step towards sustainable fisheries.

Yesterday, the Regional Development Committee adopted its opinion on the future financing mechanism for fisheries in the EU (EMFF). Surprisingly and very disappointingly, the Members of this Committee supported amendments that allowed for building new boats, vessel modernization and subsidies for new engines, which will increase pressure on already overfished stocks.

Most EU fisheries lack a balance between the capacity of the fleet and the available resource, and little is known on true capacity at the European level.

Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe: “The Regional Development Committee vote blatantly ignores the calls to eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies made both by fishermen and by European bodies such as the European Commission and Court of Auditors. By reintroducing subsidies that were eliminated 10 years ago these MEPs have undermined any attempt at reforming the European subsidies policy for the fisheries sector”.

On the other hand, yesterday the Employment and Social Affairs Committee took a step in the right direction, supporting amendments that aim to finance the transition to sustainable fisheries and refraining from tabling amendments that endanger the livelihoods of more than 300 thousand Europeans.

The vote on the EMFF in the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety was surprisingly postponed on short notice.

Learn more: The European Union and Subsidies