Report - A9-0042/2022Report
A9-0042/2022
European Parliament

REPORT on the future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean in the light of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU

8.3.2022 - (2021/2016(INI))

Committee on Fisheries
Rapporteur: Manuel Pizarro

Procedure : 2021/2016(INI)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A9-0042/2022
Texts tabled :
A9-0042/2022
Debates :
Votes :
Texts adopted :

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean in the light of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU

(2021/2016(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy[1],

– having regard to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (‘the Withdrawal Agreement’)[2], and to the accompanying political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom (‘the Political Declaration’)[3],

– having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part[4] (‘the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), in particular Part Two, Heading Five thereof on fisheries,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing[5],

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets[6],

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1203 of 19 July 2021 amending Regulation (EU) 2020/1706 as regards inclusion of autonomous Union tariff quotas for certain fishery products[7],

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 2021 establishing the Brexit Adjustment Reserve[8] and the opinion of the Committee on Fisheries of 11 May 2021 (A9-0178/2021),

– having regard to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982[9],

– having regard to the UN Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, signed in New York on 4 August 1995[10],

– having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,

– having regard to the Treaty on the Archipelago of Spitsbergen (Svalbard), signed in Paris on 9 February 1920,

– having regard to the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Convention[11],

– having regard to the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean, which entered into force on 25 June 2021[12],

– having regard to the Agreement on Fisheries between the European Economic Community and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands[13],

– having regard to the Agreement on Fisheries between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway[14],

– having regard to the Agreement on Fisheries and the Marine Environment between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Iceland[15],

– having regard to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark[16],

– having regard to its resolution of 12 February 2020 on the proposed mandate for negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland[17],

– having regard to its recommendation of 18 June 2020 on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland[18] and the opinion of the Committee on Fisheries of 26 May 2020 (A9-0117/2020),

– having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2021 on the outcome of EU-UK negotiations[19] and the opinion of the Committee on Fisheries in the form of a letter of 4 February 2021 on the conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (A9‑0128/2021),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380),

– having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2021 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives[20],

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 13 October 2021 entitled ‘A stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic’ (JOIN(2021)0027),

– having regard to the first Santiago de Compostela Declaration of 25 October 2017 and the second Santiago de Compostela Declaration of 20 June 2020 by the European fishing communities on the future of the fisheries sector in Europe after Brexit,

– having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A9-0042/2022),

A. whereas the Withdrawal Agreement sets the terms for the official withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union, the Political Declaration sets out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, and the resulting Trade and Cooperation Agreement establishes the basis for a broad relationship, within an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation, and with respect for the Parties’ autonomy and sovereignty;

B. whereas there has been a recognition of the importance of conserving and sustainably managing biological marine resources and marine ecosystems on the basis of the best available scientific advice and promoting responsible and sustainable aquaculture, as well as the key role that trade will play in achieving these goals, in particular through coherent action in compliance with the relevant international agreements of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, including efforts to prevent and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and excluding the marketing of fishery products resulting from this harmful activity;

C. whereas the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) obliges the European Union to promote the objectives of that policy internationally, ensuring that EU fishing activities carried out outside its waters are based on the same principles, providing a level playing field for EU and third-country operators, and to cooperate with third countries and international organisations in order to improve compliance with international measures, including measures to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge;

D. whereas one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to protect marine life (SDG 14);

E. whereas in the past, fish stocks that were solely managed by the EU were managed more sustainably than shared stocks; whereas a number of stocks that used to be managed solely by the EU will now be shared stocks with the United Kingdom;

F. whereas the CFP stipulates that, given the changing biological status of stocks, the relative stability of fishing activities should safeguard the particular needs of regions where local communities are especially dependent on fisheries and related activities;

G. whereas the Parties have agreed to work together on conservation and on trade-related policies and measures in the area of fisheries and aquaculture, including under the auspices of the World Trade Organization and the regional fisheries management organisations and in other multilateral instances, as the case may be, with the aim of promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices and trade in fish products from sustainably managed fisheries and aquaculture operations;

H. whereas the Parties have a common goal of exploiting shared stocks at a rate that makes it possible to maintain and progressively restore populations of harvested species at or above biomass levels that support the maximum sustainable yield;

I. whereas the Trade and Cooperation Agreement sets out principles for fisheries management and long-term environmental, social and economic sustainability for the optimum exploitation of shared stocks, on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge, primarily that provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea;

J. whereas fisheries played a very prominent role in the campaign in the run-up to the referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the EU in 2016; whereas fisheries-related issues were the final stumbling block in negotiations on the UK-EU Agreement and whereas the stated aim in the Political Declaration of concluding and ratifying a fisheries agreement by 1 July 2020 was not met;

K. whereas the shift in quota shares from the EU to the United Kingdom over the transition period as agreed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement will have major negative economic consequences for EU fishers; whereas the importance of limiting the negative economic impact of future agreements with the United Kingdom is recognised;

L. whereas the Specialised Committee on Fisheries has been set up under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; whereas this committee will prepare multiannual conservation and management strategies as a basis for setting total allowable catches and other management measures, including for non-quota stocks, defining scientific data collection for fisheries management purposes, as well as sharing this data with scientific bodies in order to have the best possible scientific advice;

M. whereas the Protocol on access to waters, appended to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement as Annex 38, provides for an ‘adjustment period’ from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2026, during which each Party shall grant to vessels of the other Party full access to its waters to fish the species listed therein;

N. whereas fishers have suffered from the delays and uncertainties due to the issue of licences to access waters;

O. whereas issues remain unresolved concerning the access of EU vessels to waters surrounding uninhabited islands in the North Atlantic, such as Rockall, causing uncertainty and risk for fishers;

P. whereas the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for duty-free and quota-free access for fishery products originating in British waters, although British overseas territories are now neither associated with the EU nor enjoy tariff exemptions for exports of fishery products to the EU since they fall outside the scope of the agreement;

Q. whereas on 18 November 2020 Norway took the unilateral and discriminatory decision to cut the EU’s Svalbard cod quota for 2021; whereas on 28 May 2021 Norway decided, again unilaterally and against scientific advice, to increase its quota of the shared mackerel stock by 55 %; whereas the Faroe Islands and Iceland have also unilaterally increased their mackerel quotas;

R. whereas the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU has caused significant supply chain disruptions on the island of Ireland and has interrupted long-standing connections between the island of Ireland and continental Europe;

1. Emphasises the need for the European Union and the United Kingdom to continue to work together to deliver sound international ocean governance by promoting the sustainable use and exploitation of ocean resources and encouraging the protection and restoration of areas on the basis of the best and most up-to-date scientific knowledge;

2. Points out that the full impact of Brexit is not yet known, not least because the full implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in relation to fisheries is still ongoing and has not yet been fully achieved, and highlights that issues are still emerging which were not covered in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, such as aspects relating to aquaculture;

3. Points out that the impact of Brexit on the fisheries sector extends beyond the geographical area of the United Kingdom and has major implications throughout the North-East Atlantic Ocean area, as well as on the EU fleet operating in other parts of the world, such as the waters around the Falkland Islands, Greenland and Svalbard; stresses that the relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom must serve as a cornerstone for fisheries governance in the North-East Atlantic and the sustainable management of stocks shared with other third countries, such as mackerel or blue whiting;

4. Deplores the fact that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement gradually reduces the share of fishing opportunities in UK waters for the EU fleet by 25 % over a five-and-a-half-year period, a reduction that will affect all segments of the EU fleet, including small-scale fishing; expresses concern at the state of affairs following the end of the adjustment period; calls on the Commission to take all the necessary measures to ensure that reciprocal access to waters and fisheries resources is maintained after 30 June 2026 and that there are no further reductions of quotas for EU fishers after the end of the transition period;

5. Calls on the Parties to pay due attention to socioeconomic aspects when agreeing on total allowable catches for the stocks listed in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; calls for the mechanisms for the exchange of fishing quotas between the Parties to be streamlined and manageable for the sector;

6. Points out that it is the Member States that are responsible for allocating their quota to their fleets and encourages them, where appropriate, to make use of the possibilities under Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 to mitigate the impact of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on their fleets, including small-scale fishing, when allocating their quota;

7. Reiterates the urgent need to ascertain every possible negative effect, not only in the North Sea but throughout the Atlantic, particularly on the fisheries communities in the outermost regions, where economies are vulnerable, ecosystems fragile and dependence on the primary sectors is heavy;

8. Points out that the increased expansion of offshore wind farms in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean will make it even more difficult for fishers to access fishing areas;

9. Points out that access to waters and resources for both EU and UK fleets must be considered within the full scope of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and hence cannot be considered in isolation from issues such as market access; stresses that a significant part of the EU fleet is historically dependent on fishing grounds now solely under British management, that there are many British companies, in particular those engaged in aquaculture production, which depend on the EU single market, and that there is demand for these products in the EU; welcomes the fact that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement incorporates a direct link between trade provisions and fisheries provisions; calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that fisheries negotiations with the United Kingdom as well as other coastal states in the North-East Atlantic are also linked to issues pertaining to trade and access to the EU single market;

10. Calls on the Commission to keep all negotiation channels with the United Kingdom open with a view to finding stable, lasting solutions that are beneficial to both Parties, providing stable and predictable conditions for fishers and the fishing sector as a whole and covering the time period beyond 2026; points out, however, that in order to ensure that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement is implemented in full, all legal instruments should be employed, including those related to market access, as well as all countervailing and response measures and dispute settlement mechanisms provided for by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement;

11. Points out that many coastal regions in the EU depend heavily on the fisheries sector and therefore need some stability and predictability with regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its impact; calls, therefore, for as much transparency as possible for the Member States with regard to the negotiation process with the United Kingdom and for information not to be kept at technical level within the Commission;

12. Calls for a permanent solution to the issue of fishing in the Granville Bay following the termination of the Granville Bay Treaty;

13. Recalls that should the United Kingdom consider limiting access after the adjustment period, the EU will be able to take action to protect its interests, including by re‑establishing tariffs or quotas for UK fish imports or suspending other parts of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, should there be a risk of serious economic or social difficulties for EU fishing communities;

14. Expresses its deep concern at the uncertainty created by the clause in Article 510 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the review of Part Two, Heading Five (Fisheries) of the agreement four years after the end of the adjustment period;

15. Notes that the situation of fisheries after 2026 is still highly uncertain and not entirely foreseen by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; considers that a multiannual post‑2026 agreement would offer more stability and more economic visibility; calls on the Commission to engage in negotiations with that objective in mind;

16. Calls on the Commission to assist the Member States to make full use of the funds under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to promote and support the sector and the coastal communities affected and to compensate for the losses suffered, in particular the loss of their quotas to the full extent; calls on the Member States to use the funds earmarked for fisheries under the reserve and to allocate further sums where needed; considers that these funds should be used while taking account of the fact that the transition period for quotas will last until 30 June 2026;

17. Stresses that these funds need to be put to the benefit of all fishers and businesses concerned, including small-scale fisheries, and that any potential obstacles to direct funding, such as State aid rules that hinder assistance to the fishers affected, should be addressed; calls on the Commission to take due account to the opinion of the Committee on Fisheries of 11 May 2021 on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and to take all the necessary action in this respect, including submitting a legislative proposal if appropriate;

18. Calls on the Commission to facilitate the development of additional economic opportunities for coastal communities, especially those most affected by Brexit;

19. Notes that Brexit has destabilised relations among North Atlantic coastal states and emphasises that the EU faces adverse effects, such as the loss of Svalbard’s cod quota, due to the presence of another country in bilateral negotiations with third countries in the North Atlantic; deplores the fact that the new post-Brexit international context in the North-East Atlantic is being used by third countries and territories such as Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands to adopt unilateral decisions, which has a significant and negative impact on fish stocks and the EU’s fishing fleet; highlights that these adverse effects need to be taken into account and require a response; emphasises the need to provide the sector with support that addresses these adverse effects, if not already covered by other existing funds or State aid;

20. Calls on the Commission, given the challenge of addressing in a coordinated manner the challenges posed by Brexit in the North-East Atlantic, to take the appropriate decisions on organisational structure and resources and to work on structural solutions with other coastal states in the region in order to achieve better fisheries management, including deeper cooperation and exchange on scientific studies and data collection;

21. Points out that international relations must be anchored in the rule of law, safeguard the necessary autonomy of each country or union of countries, and be guided at all times by a spirit of good relations and the agreements in place;

22. Is opposed to all decisions, especially those taken unilaterally, that establish fishing opportunities which contravene international law or go against the advice based on the best and most up-to-date scientific knowledge, calling into question international agreements as well as the sustainable exploitation of shared resources;

23. Urges Norway, in particular, to rectify its decision to unilaterally cut the Svalbard cod quota for the EU fleet; urges Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, moreover, to rectify their decisions to increase their mackerel quotas unilaterally and against scientific criteria; calls on the Commission and the Council to safeguard the EU fleet’s long-established rights and legitimate socioeconomic interests in the North-East Atlantic;

24. Calls on the Commission, while maintaining negotiations with all partners, to strengthen its position vis-à-vis the United Kingdom and to engage at all levels, including the highest political level, and to be ready to use all appropriate tools including market access measures, also within the scope of the European Economic Area, that are tough enough, especially in relation to unilateral decisions by third counties, in order to demonstrate the importance of resolving any conflicts that may arise; urges the Commission, furthermore, not to rule out the possibility of using the response measures provided for by Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012, which may include restrictions on imports of fishery products or on access to EU ports;

25. Deplores the restrictive attitude maintained by Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands towards European investment in their fishery sectors; stresses that the EU should maintain a more balanced relationship with these countries and territories so as to move towards lifting restrictions on freedom of establishment and investment;

26. Recalls that the EU is the largest and most attractive import market for seafood products; calls for this position of strength to be recognised and leveraged to protect the interests of the EU fishing fleet, to prevent its partners from reneging on agreements or commitments and to foster a level playing field at international level, in particular on social, economic and environmental standards;

27. Points out that it is in the interest of both Parties to pursue faithful cooperation in relation to exploiting not only the areas under the jurisdiction of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland but also adjacent international waters; points out, in addition, that marine biological resources know no borders, so the management of these resources has direct repercussions on the waters under the jurisdiction of each Party; highlights, in this regard, the importance of good cooperation and exchange in relation to science and data collection;

28. Recalls that Brexit must not be used as an excuse to delay much-needed action to restore marine ecosystems, to achieve good environmental status of the marine environment as required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive[21], or to achieve the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030;

29. Emphasises the need for the Commission to ensure that the most recent decisions of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission are adhered to by all contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, and are fully and swiftly integrated into EU law; urges the Commission to work together with other contracting parties to include ambitious control and fisheries management measures that are in line with the objectives set out in the CFP and the European Green Deal and are compatible with the rules set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on access to waters and to resources in waters under the jurisdiction of both Parties;

30. Commends the negotiations that took place despite the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic and recognises that they culminated in an ambitious Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which however entailed quota losses for EU fishers; expresses concern at the fact that access to UK waters has only been granted for a period of five-and-a-half years, leading to insecurity about the future; stresses, nonetheless, that the commitments made need to be met and enforced;

31. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the United Kingdom to comply with and enforce the Trade and Cooperation Agreement without resorting to an interpretation of the rules that is out of step with acting in a spirit of good faith and good neighbourliness and pursuing close, peaceful and constructive relations based on cooperation, guaranteeing legal certainty and respect for the autonomy and sovereignty of the Parties; points out that the United Kingdom has tried to misinterpret the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement by contravening the spirit of the agreement, such as setting additional conditions for obtaining licences for vessels;

32. Is concerned by the situation in relation to licences for EU vessels in the waters of the Crown Dependencies and the lack of commitment by the United Kingdom to faithfully implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in this regard; calls on the United Kingdom, therefore, to refrain from making restrictive and controversial interpretations of licensing conditions, in particular for vessels which have historically fished in the 6‑to-12 nautical mile zone of the British territorial sea and in the waters of the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man; calls on the Parties to pay particular attention to the situation of vessels in the small-scale fishing fleet, which before Brexit were not required to use technologies to keep a continuous record of their fishing activities and are now having difficulty providing this information;

33. Urges the Commission to consider all options in order to ensure that the rights of EU vessels are respected by the United Kingdom; points out that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for provisions for the Partnership Council to consider different arrangements for cooperation in the waters of the Crown Dependencies; highlights, in this regard, that previous arrangements under the Granville Bay Treaty could provide a basis for future adaptations of the rules by the Partnership Council;

34. Calls on the United Kingdom not to hinder fishing by EU surface longliner vessels, which traditionally enter British waters in pursuit of schools of albacore tuna and swordfish; recalls that fishing for these highly migratory species is regulated within the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; calls on the Commission to pay special attention to the situation of these sectors of the fleet;

35. Stresses that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides that technical measures should be proportionate, should be based on the best scientific advice, should not be discriminatory, should apply equally to vessels from both parties and must be notified in advance; calls for better cooperation and coordination in relation to the introduction of technical, management and control measures including developing clear and non-discriminatory criteria for these measures to ensure that they cannot be used to indirectly restrict access to fishing fleets where they have fishing rights;

36. Calls on the Parties to ensure that the designation of marine protected areas within their jurisdictions are non-discriminatory, science-based and proportionate; emphasises that marine protected areas should be established with well-defined conservation objectives and should not be used as a tool to restrict foreign access to waters; regrets, in this regard, the lack of cooperation from the United Kingdom when designating new areas around the Dogger Bank;

37. Demands that the United Kingdom cease any intimidating checks of EU vessels immediately and refrain from imposing any discriminatory technical measures; expresses its deep concern that the United Kingdom could unjustifiably depart from EU regulations on technical measures and other related EU environmental legislation, thus imposing de facto limitations on some European fishing vessels’ access to UK waters, making fishing unduly burdensome; stresses the role of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries in seeking a common approach on technical measures and in discussing any measures of which one Party may give notice to the other; recalls that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement obliges each Party to precisely justify the non-discriminatory nature of any measures in this area and the need to ensure long-term environmental sustainability, on the basis of scientifically verifiable data; calls on the Commission to be particularly vigilant that these conditions are complied with and to strongly respond if the United Kingdom were to act in a discriminatory manner;

38. Takes note of the United Kingdom’s ‘economic link’ measures, which from 1 April 2022 will restrict the flagging of its vessels, increase the minimum percentage of UK crew members on board its vessels and set the minimum amount of fish that must be landed in UK ports at 70 %; calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to the impact of these protectionist measures and to respond accordingly, where necessary;

39. Welcomes the adoption of Council Regulation (EU) No 2021/1203 of 19 July 2021, with a view to mitigating the effects of Brexit in terms of the loss of preferential status for the EU’s overseas territories; calls on the Commission and the Council to take all necessary measures to eliminate tariffs on imports of Patagonian squid (Loligo gahi);

40. Expresses concern at the fact that the Falkland Islands Assembly has recently passed the Fisheries (Conservation and Administration) Act 2021, which requires 51 % of the shares of all fishing companies operating in the Falkland Islands to be owned in the Falklands;

41. Expresses concern at recent cases of overzealous enforcement of fisheries control rules in the Celtic Sea; urges all Member States to avoid practices that may amount to unwarranted ‘fisheries nationalism’;

42. Emphasises the need to ensure that the Specialised Committee on Fisheries, which will be responsible for taking decisions that are fair for both Parties and ensuring that resources are managed sustainably in the long term, takes shape and starts work swiftly, including prioritising work on urgent issues, such as the practical application of access to waters and the definition of a ‘direct replacement’ of a qualifying vessel with a view to further facilitating a faithful implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement;

43. Highlights the need for transparency in the work of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries and for the European Parliament to be regularly updated about its work and the decisions it takes, both before and after its meetings; demands that technical representatives from the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries be invited to take part in the meetings of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries as observers;

44. Urges the Commission and the Council to ensure that all decisions taken in the framework of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement respect the prerogatives of the different institutions and follow the appropriate legislative process, particularly with regard to technical measures;

45. Recalls that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for its Parties to consult with civil society; stresses the importance of including regional entities that represent the sector and regional public authorities in advisory groups, ensuring that the coastal communities of regions directly or indirectly affected are legally protected under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including from the effects of any unilateral decisions taken by the United Kingdom;

46. Calls for representatives of the fisheries sector, regional authorities, coastal communities and other stakeholders to be actively involved in the monitoring and implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in particular through their participation in the domestic advisory groups and the Civil Society Forum provided for by Articles 13 and 14 of the agreement; urges the Commission to promote the establishment of a domestic internal fisheries advisory group to that effect, without prejudice to the existing advisory councils;

47. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, and the Governments and Parliaments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union has had implications for access to the resources in the maritime space traditionally used by fishing vessels of both Parties. The Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement laid down the rules that will be in effect until at least 30 June 2026. However, the initial months of application of these rules revealed a number of outstanding points and issues that have not yet been fully resolved.

 

Tensions were running high in early 2021, as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement entered into force against the backdrop of the ongoing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, certain matters were brought to light which, in a worst-case scenario, could have very serious consequences. Despite a few attempts on the part of the UK Government to misapply rules under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the spirit of good neighbourliness and close and peaceful relations based on cooperation and respect for the autonomy and sovereignty of both Parties prevails.

 

The full consequences and impact of Brexit are not yet known. There are various vested interests in exploiting resources in the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and they do not depend solely on access to British or EU waters by vessels from both sides of the Channel or on mutual market access. The UK’s withdrawal has also altered bilateral relations with certain other neighbouring third countries, and a number of other, initially unforeseen, adverse effects have emerged.

 

 

Position of the Rapporteur

 

Relations and the future of fishing in the English Channel, the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean must be anchored at all times in sound international ocean governance and in a spirit of good neighbourliness and peaceful cooperation among all stakeholders. As established in the CFP and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the use of that space must be guided by principles of fisheries management and, with a view to the optimum exploitation of shared stocks, be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable in the long term. Lastly, it must also be rooted in the best scientific knowledge.

 

In this regard, independent scientific advice should continue to be based on guidance provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), so that advice is firm and consistent, making it possible for management decisions to be taken. It is important for management in international waters in this area to be guided by decisions of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), since this is the designated regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO). Moreover, management measures adopted by the NEAFC will have to be aligned with those implemented in the waters under the sovereignty of each of the Parties and incorporated in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

 

While the Member States should make the best possible use of funds from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, the financial resources allocated to the fisheries sector are insufficient and the eligibility period should at the very least coincide with the transition period set. The Specialised Committee on Fisheries that will oversee the sector-specific implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement needs to take shape and start work swiftly. Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries should closely monitor the decisions taken by this Specialised Committee by sending observers to its meetings.

 

Ultimately, relations between the European Union, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland must be anchored in the rule of law, safeguard the necessary autonomy and independence of the Parties, and be guided at all times by the international agreements in place. The European Union should keep open all negotiation channels with the United Kingdom, and indeed with all third countries, without hesitating to resort, where necessary, to any of the legal instruments at its disposal, including those that would restrict market access.


INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

3.3.2022

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

27

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Clara Aguilera, Pietro Bartolo, François-Xavier Bellamy, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Isabel Carvalhais, Maria da Graça Carvalho, Rosanna Conte, Rosa D’Amato, Giuseppe Ferrandino, Søren Gade, Francisco Guerreiro, Niclas Herbst, Jan Huitema, Ladislav Ilčić, France Jamet, Pierre Karleskind, Predrag Fred Matić, Francisco José Millán Mon, Grace O’Sullivan, João Pimenta Lopes, Manuel Pizarro, Caroline Roose, Annie Schreijer-Pierik, Peter van Dalen, Theodoros Zagorakis

Substitutes present for the final vote

Valentino Grant, Raffaele Stancanelli

 


FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

27

+

ECR

Ladislav Ilčić, Raffaele Stancanelli

ID

Rosanna Conte, Valentino Grant, France Jamet

PPE

François-Xavier Bellamy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, Peter van Dalen, Niclas Herbst, Francisco José Millán Mon, Annie Schreijer-Pierik, Theodoros Zagorakis

Renew

Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Søren Gade, Jan Huitema, Pierre Karleskind

S&D

Clara Aguilera, Pietro Bartolo, Isabel Carvalhais, Giuseppe Ferrandino, Predrag Fred Matić, Manuel Pizarro

The Left

João Pimenta Lopes

Verts/ALE

Rosa D'Amato, Francisco Guerreiro, Grace O'Sullivan, Caroline Roose

 

0

-

 

 

 

0

0

 

 

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

Last updated: 29 April 2022
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