Common fisheries policy: EP adopts Patrão Neves' proposal by overwhelming majority.

The oral question by Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, EPP Group MEP, on the "Contribution of the Common Fisheries Policy/CFP to the production of public goods" was today adopted by an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

This question, and its respective Resolution, which was supported by the majority of political groups in the European Parliament, aims at "highlighting some aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy which, despite their importance, are often neglected."

The Portuguese MEP explained that this initiative "aims at asserting the multifunctionality of the fisheries sector in the context of the reformed CFP and reminds all that there is an array of public goods produced on a daily basis which come from the fisheries sector."

The main objective of the Resolution is "to reclaim recognition for the multifunctionality of fisheries. This means that one should be aware that this is not only a traditional activity of exploration, processing and marketing. Besides these vectors and their socio-economical value, fisheries have a relevant role at historical, cultural, touristic, energetic, environmental, and educational levels. Not to mention producing public goods from which all society will benefit and therefore they should be taken into account in the financing of CFP", said Patrão Neves.

The second objective is "to propose the concept of 'conditionality', this means a positive discrimination for those who implement good practices in fisheries, in the choice of gears or rejecting illegal fishing and reducing accessory fishing." In fact, the complementary positive impact of this measure will be the increase of collaboration of fishing vessel owners and fishermen in the process of auditing and controlling. As a third objective, Patrão Neves sought to "highlight how fisheries, itself and integrated in the European Maritime Policy, contributed to the Rio+20 goals, in the creation of jobs and poverty eradication and to the EU Strategy 2020, by promoting intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth, through an increased scientific base, ecosystem structuring and professional training."

Concluding her speech in plenary, Maria do Céu Patrão Neves warned that "only this renewed, holistic and modern concept of fisheries can make it a true catalyst of development, which is still eagerly awaited in many coastal regions of the Member States with a sea coast, such as Portugal or the maritime regions, like Azores. We can't demand less from the next reform!"