Transposing international measures for Atlantic tuna fisheries into EU law

Briefing 26-09-2017

Following the approval, in June 2017, of the outcome of interinstitutional negotiations by the Committee on fisheries, the European Parliament is due to vote on a proposal for a regulation concerning the conservation of tuna and tuna-like species, and the management of fisheries targeting these stocks in the Atlantic Ocean (including adjacent seas such as the Mediterranean), with a view to reaching a first-reading agreement. This legislative proposal aims to transpose into EU law a number of binding recommendations adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), a regional fisheries management organisation to which the EU is a contracting party. To become applicable, notably to operators such as the masters of fishing vessels, these measures must be enacted in EU law. The European Commission is also proposing that future ICCAT recommendations for some fisheries management measures should become part of EU law through delegated acts. Owing to its purpose (transposition of internationally agreed measures), this legislative proposal is not accompanied by an impact assessment and was not the subject of a public consultation. Third edition. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. To view earlier editions of this briefing, please see: PE.603.917, May 2017.