Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy

Date:

09.12.08

Location:

Brussels

Speaker:

State Secretary Gert Lindemann

Check against delivery!

1. Introduction and thanks

"Every year again…" – that is not just the beginning of a German Christmas Carol; every year again, the friends and supporters of the fishing sector meet here in Brussels shortly before Christmas.

This reception hosted by the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic, to which I would like to cordially welcome you all, has become a bit of a cherished tradition.

It is now also a cherished tradition that we are able to mark this occasion by welcoming trusted colleagues from

• the European Parliament,
• the Commission,
• the Council Secretariat, and
• our neighbouring and partner countries.

Colleagues who work the same fields or, to put it a better way, fish in the same waters. I would like first of all to extend my particular thanks to our colleagues at the Permanent Representation who have – as always – displayed so much personal commitment in preparing this event.

But what would this evening be without the specialities from the German fisheries sector? Deutsche See has once again spared no expense or effort to indulge us with the sea’s bounty. Thank you very much for that Dr. Dill!

But before we devote ourselves to all the culinary delights, allow me to say a few words about fisheries policy: For as you all know: fisheries policy never ends – not even shortly before the end of the year!

2. Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

Ladies and Gentlemen, We have just successfully concluded the "Health Check" in the field of agricultural policy. In fisheries policy we are, if you will, still right in the middle of it.

I would like to thank you, Commissioner Borg, for initiating the necessary expert discussions as early as you did.

And, not least, I would of course also like to thank the Swedish Presidency for all their hard and successful work and for the fact that the broad opinion-forming process has already led to initial results, and to good results.

And so, looking back over the year, we can say that the overall picture was positive:

• the EU Fisheries Control Regulation and the IUU regulations (combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing) have introduced and implemented key steps in the reform process;
• discussions on the Green Paper are well advanced.

The Fisheries Control Regulation represents a joint success in making future fisheries controls in the EU simpler, fairer and more cost-effective.

We have managed, by introducing new and modern control instruments and deterrent sanctions, to enable infringements in future to be discovered more quickly and combated more effectively throughout the EU.

That, dear colleagues, is a milestone for sustainable fishing in the EU. It represents an important contribution towards helping fish stocks to recover.

The Fisheries Control Regulation supplements the instruments contained in the Regulation on combating illegal fishing which will come into force at the beginning of next year.

Germany considers combating IUU fishing to be one of the main topics of fisheries policy; together we have now created the Community legal basis for this area.

With regard to the Green Paper discussion, allow me to make the following brief comments:

• We are all still in agreement that the process initiated by the CFP reform of 2002 should be developed further.
• We regard sustainability as being the top-priority objective in this reform. In Germany’s opinion, this objective should, together with the ecosystem and precautionary approaches, be the guiding principle in the forthcoming reform discussion. However, it must not be the case that the topic of "sustainability" is used in the future as a cover to discuss the redistribution of resources.

• Regardless of the necessary reforms, European fisheries require a reliable economic framework. It is therefore Germany’s view that the key elements of the CFP as not open to discussion. These include:

  • the allocation of the total allowable catches according to the principle of relative stability;
  • the system of national quotas; and
  • the Fisheries Agreements.

In our view, this is the best system for ensuring that the Member States continue to bear their joint responsibility for sustainable fishing and that coastal fishing has reliable prospects for the future. And I believe that, jointly, we are on the right path in this area as well.

But, Commissioner Borg, there is still one stumbling block on this path that in Germany’s opinion is preventing us from progressing any further: regarding the fishing effort scheme, no acceptable solution has yet been found for the German fisheries sector, contrary to what you implied in Berlin. During talks with the Commission services it was made clear to my staff that the Commission was not willing to deviate from the criteria that the STECF committee defined regarding exemption from the effort scheme.

This is exacerbated by the fact that, under the Implementing Regulation for the recovery plan for cod, Germany and other Member States run a considerable risk of losing the vast majority of their catch effort if they make use of the derogation rule. This would happen if cod stocks recovered and the by-catch exceeded the 1.5 percent threshold. This would be the case if the Commission services’ recent interpretation of the kW days scheme were applied, under which the catching effort cannot be reactivated if it has been deducted from a Member State’s total catching effort due to an request for derogation.

This is not in line with the spirit of the compromise proposal on the recovery plan for cod that was adopted by the Council, and Germany continues to find this completely unacceptable.

I would be truly grateful, Commissioner Borg, if you could endeavour to bring about a solution to the problems regarding the effort scheme that is acceptable to all parties. I am optimistic in this regard, given that the previous talks we have held with you have always been very constructive.

I therefore hope very much that you will take action in this area once again - building on our good cooperation in the past years, for which I would like to express my warm thanks.

3. Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen, I think that these comments have been sufficient to whet the appetite for our informal discussion later on.

I started by quoting a Christmas Carol so let me continue the theme and finish by saying "Now let us all be merry".

On that note I wish you

• interesting discussions,
• an enjoyable evening and
• unrepentant enjoyment of the excellent fish dishes and good wine.

Last but not least, I would like, both on my own behalf and on behalf of Federal Minister Aigner, to wish you, Commissioner Borg, all the very best for the future!

And now: enjoy your meal!