Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission

14.9.2020

The Commission is committed to the recovery of the European eel stock, which, as confirmed by scientific advice, remains in a critical condition.

After examination of its pending legislative proposals that were not adopted by the legislator, the Commission has decided to withdraw the 2012 proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council (amending Council Regulation (EC) 1100/2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel).

The recent evaluation of Regulation 1100/2007[1] found that the regulation is fit for purpose; however, more efforts are needed to ensure that Member States implement it appropriately, and to ensure in particular a greater focus on non-fisheries related measures to help the stock recover. The Commission is assessing the most suitable way forward to address the findings of the evaluation. As underlined in the President of the Commission’s mission letter to the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, priority is given to the full implementation of the relevant EU policies in line with the mandate of the current Commission.

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/sites/fisheries/files/swd-2020-35_en.pdf