Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2014)135 - EU position in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2014)135 - EU position in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2014)135  |
| date | 10-03-2014 |
By Council Decision of 9 June 1986[1] the European Community approved the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (the Convention), which established the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The ICCAT is a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. The European Union became a contracting party to the ICCAT in 1997.
Pursuant to Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union in RFMO such as the ICCAT when they are called upon to adopt acts having legal effects, with the exception of acts supplementing or amending their institutional framework, must be adopted by Council Decision, on a proposal from the Commission.
Such position within the RFMO is currently established according to a two tier approach. A Council Decision sets out the guiding principles and orientations of the Union's position on a multiannual basis, whereas it is thereafter adjusted for each annual meeting by Commission non-papers to be discussed in the Council Working Party.
As regards ICCAT, Council Decision 14863/08, as amended by Council Decision 11625/13, provides for a review of the Union's position before the 2014 annual meeting. Therefore, this proposal aims at setting out the Union's position within the ICCAT for the period 2014-2019 and thereby replacing Council Decision 14863/08 which is covering the period 2008-2013.
This revision aims at incorporating the principles and orientations of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council[2], taking also into account the objectives of the Commission Communication on the external dimension of the CFP[3]. Moreover, the Union's position has been adjusted to the Lisbon Treaty. At last, the position has been aligned to the extent possible taking into account the specificities of the different RFMOs.
As it is the case for the current positions, the following position contains principles and orientations. In addition, the standard process for the year to year specification of the Union position has been incorporated as requested by Member States for positions aligned more recently.
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The external dimension of the CFP was part of the impact assessment for the CFP reform proposals. The principles and orientations agreed for the new CFP are simply being transposed into the revised positions.
The following Decision is based on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2), in conjunction with Article 218(9) which provides that the Council, on a proposal from the Commission shall adopt a decision establishing the positions to be adopted on the Union's behalf in a body set up by an agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal effects. This shall apply to the position to be adopted by the Commission, on behalf of the Union, in the ICCAT.
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the legal basis setting up the principles to be reflected in this negotiating mandate.
The following Decision shall replace Council Decision 14863/08 which is covering the period 2008-2013, and shall cover the period 2014-2019.