Today, the European Commission adopted a Green Paper on the future of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. The paper analyses the shortcomings of the current Policy and launches a broad public consultation on how these shortcomings should be tackled. Fishermen and other interested parties from the sector, but also scientists, civil society and interested citizens, are invited to respond and have their say until 31 December 2009 on the future face of European fisheries. The consultation is the first step of the process which should bring about a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The European Commission has welcomed the support provided by the European Parliament today to its proposal for a new fisheries control system designed to ensure compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Control lies at the heart of the CFP, because the policy's credibility depends on effective implementation and enforcement of the agreed rules. Last November, the Commission proposed a root-and-branch overhaul of the existing control system to have a new, more efficient system which would foster a culture of compliance with fisheries rules and create a level playing field for Europe's fishermen. The Parliament tabled several amendments today, but retained most of the key elements of the Commission's proposal.