Fisheries – transposition of IATTC measures

Key points

• The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is of the view that control, conservation and management measures adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) need to be transposed into EU law, the aim being to ensure that they are uniformly and effectively implemented within the EU. The transposition should adhere strictly to what has been agreed in the IATTC, without imposing any new obligations on European vessels. The Committee therefore supports the proposal for a regulation.
• However, the Committee recommends taking into account the considerations it set out in its opinion on Conservation and enforcement measures in the area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO).
• In the EESC's view, therefore, the proposal presented does not establish an efficient mechanism for transposing IATTC rules and does not resolve the issue of needing to update them every year.
• The Committee is in favour of a mechanism that is simpler and more efficient, and therefore proposes drafting a regulation with a single article stipulating that the European Union must without fail apply IATTC rules to its fleet.
• The EESC stresses the risk involved in introducing a system of delegated acts, as this would give the Commission the power to legislate without being required to follow the ordinary procedures.