THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) and Article 207 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,
Whereas:
(1)
As provided in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (‘UNCLOS’) and in the United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks of 4 August 1995 (‘UNFSA’), the management of certain shared, straddling and highly migratory fish stocks requires the cooperation of all the countries in whose waters the stock occurs (the coastal States) and the countries whose fleets exploit that stock (the fishing States). This cooperation may be established in the framework of regional fisheries management organisations (‘RFMOs’) or, where RFMOs have no competence for the stock in question, by means of ad hoc arrangements among the countries having an interest in the fishery.
(2)
Where a third country with an interest in a fishery involving a stock of common interest to that country and to the Union allows, without due regard to existing fishing patterns or the rights, duties and interests of other countries and the Union, fisheries activities that jeopardise the sustainability of that stock, and fails to cooperate with other countries and the Union in its management, specific measures should be adopted in order to encourage that country to contribute to the conservation of that stock.
(3)
Fish stocks should be considered to be in an unsustainable state when they are not continuously maintained at or above the levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield or, if these levels cannot be estimated, when the stocks are not continuously maintained within safe biological limits.
(4)
It is necessary to define the conditions upon which a country can be considered to be a country allowing non-sustainable fishing and subject to measures under this Regulation, including a process granting the countries concerned the right to be heard and allowing them an opportunity to adopt corrective action.
(5)
In addition, it is necessary to define the type of measures that may be taken with regard to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing and to establish general conditions for the adoption of such measures, so that they are based on objective criteria and are equitable, cost-effective and compatible with international law, in particular with the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation.
(6)
Such measures should aim to remove the incentives for countries allowing non-sustainable fishing to fish the stock of common interest. This can be achieved inter alia by restricting the importation of fish products caught by vessels conducting fisheries on a stock of common interest under the control of the country allowing non-sustainable fishing, by restricting the access to ports for those vessels, or by preventing Union fishing vessels or Union fishing equipment from being used for fishing the stock of common interest under the control of the country allowing non-sustainable fishing.
(7)
In order to ensure that Union action for the conservation of fish stocks is effective and coherent, it is important that the measures set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are taken into consideration.
(8)
In order to guarantee that measures adopted against a country under this Regulation are environmentally sound, effective, proportionate and compatible with international rules, it is necessary for their adoption to be preceded by an evaluation of their expected environmental, trade, economic and social effects.
(9)
If measures adopted against a country under this Regulation are ineffective and that country continues to be considered to be a country allowing non-sustainable fishing, further measures may be adopted in accordance with this Regulation.
(10)
The measures adopted against a country under this Regulation should cease to apply when the country allowing non-sustainable fishing has adopted the measures necessary for its contribution to the conservation of the stock of common interest.
(11)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with regard to identifying a country allowing non-sustainable fishing, to adopting measures in respect of such country and to deciding that such measures should cease to apply. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers.
(12)
The Commission should adopt immediately applicable implementing acts where, in duly justified cases relating to the end of application of measures taken pursuant to this Regulation, imperative grounds of urgency so require,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: