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) 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)
Union fishing vessels have equal access to Union waters and resources, subject to the rules of the common fisheries policy.
(2)
Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 provides for a derogation from the equal access rule, whereby Member States are authorised to restrict fishing to certain vessels in waters up to 12 nautical miles from their baselines.
(3)
On 13 July 2011, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, the Commission presented a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the arrangements concerning access to fisheries resources within the 12 nautical mile zone. That report concluded that the access regime is very stable and that it has continued to operate satisfactorily since 2002.
(4)
Rules in place restricting access to fisheries resources within the 12 nautical mile zone have had positive effects on conservation by restricting fishing effort in the most sensitive part of Union waters. Those rules have also preserved traditional fishing activities which are important for the social and economic development of certain coastal communities.
(5)
The derogation entered into force on 1 January 2003 and is to expire on 31 December 2012. Its validity should be extended pending the adoption of a new regulation, based on the Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the common fisheries policy.
(6)
Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: