REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 as regards fishing authorisations for Union vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters
4.10.2019 - (COM(2019)0398 – C9‑0110/2019 – 2019/0187(COD)) - ***I
Committee on Fisheries
Rapporteur: Chris Davies
(Simplified procedure – Rule 52(1) of the Rules of Procedure)
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 as regards fishing authorisations for Union vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters
(COM(2019)0398 – C9‑0110/2019 – 2019/0187(COD))
(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2019)0398),
– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C9‑0110/2019),
– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A9-0014/2019),
1. Adopts its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal;
2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;
3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Background
From the date of withdrawal, the United Kingdom will be a third country; its territorial waters and those of its exclusive economic zone will no longer be part of the waters of the Union.
In the absence of a withdrawal agreement (and pending any possible future agreement between the Union and the United Kingdom regarding fisheries), fishing vessels of the Union will lose their fishing access rights in the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. By the same token, British fishing vessels will not have access to EU waters anymore from day one of a no-deal Brexit.
The absence of a common arrangement does not as such prevent the United Kingdom and the Union from granting individual access to each other’s waters and issuing fishing authorisations to vessels of the other party to this end. Notwithstanding the need for being given a fishing authorisation from the UK - newly a “third country”- any EU vessels would also have in particular to obtain a parallel authorisation from the authorities of its flag Member State, in compliance with the conditions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets (SMEFF Regulation). The EU may on the basis of reciprocity authorise individual foreign vessels to fish in EU waters along conditions also set in this regulation.
As part of contingency measures to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, the European Parliament and the Council adopted, in March 2019, Regulation (EU) 2019/498 amending the SMEFF regulation. Those amendments notably aimed at establishing simplified procedures and faster management of such authorisations for EU vessels entering United Kingdom waters, and for UK vessels wanting to fish in EU waters - should reciprocal access rights to waters be confirmed. They also provided for the possibility of continuing the practice of exchanging quotas with the United Kingdom, as presently the case as long as the United Kingdom is a member of the Union. These contingency measures foreseen in Regulation (EU) 2019/498 of March 2019 would end by 31 December 2019.
Aim of the legislative proposal
The draft regulation (COM(2019/398) proposed by the Commission on 4 September 2019 aims at extending, for the year 2020, the application of the contingency measures relative to the SMEFF regulation adopted in March 2019 under Regulation (EU) 2019/498. The issuing of mutual access rights requires that fishing activities are sustainable in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy (CFP).
The position of the Committee on Fisheries, as conveyed by the Chair
In the light of the continued uncertainty regarding an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, such a temporary framework established for 2019, remains necessary for 2020.
Following a first discussion of this legislative proposal in the Committee on Fisheries on 24 September, the Committee agreed (with objection of two Members) on 2 October that this proposal be approved without amendment along a simplified procedure under Rule 52(1).
The rapporteur, acting in this capacity of Chair of the Committee of Fisheries, therefore recommends to Parliament to approve this proposal without amendment.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Title |
Fishing authorisations for Union vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters |
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References |
COM(2019)0398 – C9-0110/2019 – 2019/0187(COD) |
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Date submitted to Parliament |
5.9.2019 |
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Committee responsible Date announced in plenary |
PECH 16.9.2019 |
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Rapporteurs Date appointed |
Chris Davies 2.10.2019 |
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Simplified procedure - date of decision |
2.10.2019 |
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Discussed in committee |
24.9.2019 |
2.10.2019 |
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Date adopted |
2.10.2019 |
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Date tabled |
4.10.2019 |
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