What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

9 unchanged paragraphs

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area

(COM(2024)0183 – C100006/2024 – 2024/0098(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2024)0183),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C10-0006/2024),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,

– having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed:– having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A100000/2024),(A10-0150/2025),

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Change 1

Removed:Recital 7: (7) At its annual session in 2021, the GFCM adopted Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/2 on the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Jabuka/Pomo Pit in the Adriatic sea, amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/3.

Added:Recital 1: (1) The Agreement for the establishment of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (“the GFCM Agreement”) provides an appropriate framework for multilateral cooperation to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilisation of living marine resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea at levels which are considered sustainable and at low risk of collapse, and which are consistent with the best scientific advice available and take into account regularly reviews of the socioeconomic aspects of the fishing industry.

Removed:Deletion to avoid confusion for readers as GFCM/44/2021/5 was repealed by GFCM/46/2023/1

Added:Recital 3: (3) Recommendations adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) are binding on its contracting parties. Those recommendations are thus binding on the Union and should therefore be implemented into Union law in such a way as to ensure a level playing field for Union operators vis-à-vis operators from other GFCM contracting parties, unless the recommendations are already covered by existing regulations. The Union is to ensure that Union fishing activities outside Union waters are based on the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law, while promoting fair competition between Union operators and third-country operators. GFCM Recommendations must therefore be strictly transposed, in order to establish a level playing field for all operators, without burdening them beyond the legal obligations set by the GFCM recommendations.

Removed:Recital 9: (9) At its annual session in 2021, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/14 on the mitigation of fisheries impacts for the conservation of sea turtles, Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/15 on the mitigation of fisheries impacts for the conservation of cetaceans and Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/16 on additional mitigation measures for the conservation of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea.

Added:Recital 3 a (new): (3a) It is important for the Union to implement its international obligation in a timely and correct manner in order to provide predictability to the operators and to ensure that the Union is a reliable international partner. To achieve this, it is of high importance that the relevant Union institutions work together effectively in a well-functioning cooperation, to ensure a strong negotiating positions that after adoption at the GFCM can be swiftly implemented into Union law. Reduction of the current delay of transposition of the Union’s international obligations must be tackled in a more expeditious manner.

Removed:Recital 23 a (new): (23a) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/1 on the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Gulf of Lion (geographical subarea 7) to protect spawning aggregations and deep-sea sensitive habitats, repealing Recommendation

Added:Recital 4 a (new): (4a) In order to enhance the coherence and efficiency of measures in relation to European eel (Anguilla anguilla) adopted by the GFCM, these rules should be seen together with other Union regulations also covering the freshwater part of the life cycle of European eels, including in transitional and brackish waters, such as lagoons and estuaries, in accordance with Article 10(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC, together with provisions set in Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/1 repealed Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/5

Added:Recital 13: deleted

Removed:Recital 23 b (new): (23b) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/2 on the definition of a minimum conservation reference size for giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily (geographical subareas 12 to 16).

Added:Recital 14: deleted

Removed:Justification: Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/2

Added:Recital 23 a (new): (23a) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/16 on a long-term management plan for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea, repealing Recommendations GFCM/42/2018/1 and GFCM/45/2022/1.

Change 2

Changed:Recital 23 cb (new): (23c)(23b) At its annual session in 2023,2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/3GFCM/47/2024/2 on the definition of a minimum conservation referencelong-term sizemeasures for giant red shrimpthe andsustainable blueexploitation andof red shrimpcoral, inamending theRecommendation IonianGFCM/43/2019/4 Seaand (geographicalrepealing subareasRecommendations 19GFCM/45/2022/2 toand 21).GFCM/46/2023/13.

Change 3

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/3

Added:Recital 23 c (new): (23c) At its annual session in 2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/3 on the adoption of additional remedial measures for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 1–3), amending Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3;

Change 4

Changed:Recital 2324 da (new): (23d)(24a) At its annual session in 2023,2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/4GFCM/47/2024/5 on the definitionimplementation of a minimum conservationfishing referenceeffort sizeregime for giant red shrimp and blue andkey reddemersal shrimpstocks in the LevantAdriatic Sea (geographical subareas 2417 toand 27).18) in 2025, stemming from Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5.

Change 5

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/4

Added:Recital 25 a (new): (25a) At its annual session in 2024, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/6 on the establishment of a fisheries restricted area in the Otranto Channel (geographical subarea 18), stemming from Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5 and Resolution GFCM/44/2021/3.

Removed:Recital 23 e (new): (23e) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/5 on the extension of the transitional fishing regime and the establishment of catch limits in 2024 for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17 and 18), stemming from Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/20.

Added:Recital 26 a (new): (26a) Operators may receive financial support from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund to equip themselves with remote electronic monitoring systems pursuant to Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/5

Removed:Recital 23 f (new): (23f) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/6 on the implementation of a fishing effort regime in 2024 for key demersal stocks in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17 and 18), stemming from Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/6

Removed:Recital 23 g (new): (23g) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/7 on the extension of the multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29), amending Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/4.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/7 amended Recommendation GFCM/41/2017/4

Removed:Recital 23 h (new): (23h) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/11 on the mitigation of bottlenose dolphin depredation in small pelagic fisheries in the southern Alboran Sea (geographical subarea 3).

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/11

Removed:Recital 23 i (new): (23i) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/12 on the establishment of a regional fishing capacity management plan.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/12

Removed:Recital 23 j (new): (23j) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14 establishing a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of common dolphinfish in the Mediterranean Sea, repealing Recommendations GFCM/30/2006/2, GFCM/43/2019/1 and GFCM/44/2021/11.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14 repealed Recommendations GFCM/30/2006/2, GFCM/43/2019/1 and GFCM/44/2021/11.

Removed:Recital 23 k (new): (23k) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/15 on the revision of the minimum conservation reference size for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea (geographical subareas 1 to 3), amending Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/15 amended Recommendation GFCM/45/2022/3

Removed:Recital 23 l (new): (23l) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/16 on a multiannual management plan for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea, repealing Recommendations GFCM/42/2018/1 and GFCM/45/2022/1.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/16 on a long-term management plan for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea repealed Recommendations GFCM/45/2022/1 and GFCM/42/2018/1.

Removed:Recital 23 m (new): (23m) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/17 on an international joint inspection and surveillance scheme for common dolphinfish fisheries outside waters under national jurisdiction in the Mediterranean Sea.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/17

Removed:Recital 23 n (new): (23n) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/18 on an international joint inspection and surveillance scheme outside waters under national jurisdiction in the Adriatic Sea (geographical subareas 17 and 18).

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/18

Removed:Recital 23 o (new): (23o) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/19 on the establishment of a catch documentation scheme for red coral in the Mediterranean Sea.

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/19

Removed:Recital 23 p (new): (23p) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/20 on the establishment of a catch documentation scheme for turbot in the Black Sea (geographical subarea 29).

Removed:Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/20

Removed:Recital 23 q (new): (23q) At its annual session in 2023, the GFCM also adopted Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/21 on vessel sightings, amending Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/21.