As per the news report the EU Parliament has adopted a resolution which calls for fishery products to be classified as “sensitive” in global trade talks. It also stress that EU’s fishing and aquaculture industries must not be exposed to unfair competition from imports. MEPs believe that fisheries and aquaculture do not lend themselves to a purely free-trade approach.
There should adjustable tariff protection to regulate imports, while products from third countries should meet the same standards as European-produced fish. European production falls well short of EU demand: already 60 percent is met by imports, acknowledges the resolution on the future EU fisheries import policy, drafted by Alain Cadec (EPP, FR).
European Parliament is now become a key player on fisheries policy and the resolution adopted seeks to influence the upcoming reform of the common fisheries policy, was adopted by 374 votes to 13 with 11 abstentions. The European Parliament now co-legislates with the Council when it comes to the common trade policy, including on fisheries policy.
The resolution also states that customs protection, which is adjustable, should continue to be a legitimate instrument to regulate imports. Moreover, it is tariff protection that gives meaning to the preferences granted to developing countries. Parliament believes that responsibility for leading the EU’s trade talks on fishery and aquaculture products should be transferred from the Trade Commissioner to the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
It also calls for fishery and aquaculture products to be treated as sensitive products in the WTO’s talks on gradual tariff reduction. The Commission should ensure that any agreement on subsidies in the fisheries sector does not place European producers at a competitive disadvantage.
