The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal for a Council regulation concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea (COM(2003)0589),

–   having regard to its position of 9 June 2005(1) on that subject,

–   having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.   whereas the adoption of its abovementioned position was the outcome of close collaboration between the Commission and Parliament, resulting in a compromise between the two institutions,

B.   whereas the only management measures now applicable to fishing in the Mediterranean date from 1994 and whereas those measures, which at the time were already considered obsolete, do not concern the other seas of the European Union, the measures for which allow responsible fishing,

C.   whereas the absence of a regulation on fisheries management in this region of the EU has created obvious discrimination among European fishermen, which is becoming steadily worse,

D.   whereas certain stocks of great commercial value are in a serious state of decline,

1.  Expresses its concern at the inactivity of the Council, which can only be interpreted as a lack of interest in the Mediterranean Sea, which is, however, from the point of view of fishing activities, acknowledged to be one of the most diverse and complex regions, not only biologically, but also in environmental, social and economic terms;

2.  Expresses its concern, knowing as it does that this inactivity, by preventing the adoption of more responsible rules that are better adapted to the general framework of the common fisheries policy, is incompatible with the objective of sustainable development;

3.  Is worried by the fact that if a decision is not taken quickly, international obligations regarding management of fisheries in the European Union, particularly in the context of regional fisheries organisations covering the Mediterranean (the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas), are in danger of not being met;

4.  Calls therefore on the Council to ensure that the management measures applicable to fish stocks in the Mediterranean are adopted without delay;

5.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0234.