Brussels, 23 July 2024
The members of the EP Committee on Fisheries (PECH) have elected their chair and four vice-chairs for the next two-and-a-half years at the constitutive meeting on Tuesday, 23 July.
Carmen CRESPO DÍAZ was elected by acclamation chair of the Committee on Fisheries.
The committee also elected:
- Sander SMIT (EPP, NL; first vice-chair) by acclamation
- Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR, IT; second vice-chair) by secret ballot with 16 votes in favour, 5 against and 6 abstentions
- Stéphanie YON-CURTIN (Renew, FR third vice-chair) by secret ballot with 20 votes in favour, while France Jamet (PfE, FR) received five votes in favour
- Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SV; fourth vice-chair) by acclamation
Quote
“We will defend the fisheries sector as a key socio-economic sector for the EU. It has an strategic role in ensuring food security in Europe.
One of the priorities is to have a constructive dialogue with all the stakeholders in view of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), in order to adapt it to the real needs of the sector, a sector that wants to modernize to be more competitive and that needs to reduce the bureaucratic burden it currently faces.
The new CFP should be a balance between environmental requirements and the competitiveness and profitability of the fishing fleet. We will also work in this term on new lines to support the fishing and aquaculture activity encouraging the generational renewal change and compliance with decarbonization”, said the newly elected chair, after the vote.
First committee meeting
The first ordinary committee meeting of the new legislative term will take place on Wednesday, 24 July, from 10.30 to 12.30, in SPINELLI (1E-2). Draft agenda of the meeting.
Main responsibilities of the Chair
The new committee leadership (also referred to as the “committee bureau”) will be responsible for smooth functioning of the committee and will serve for a two-and-a-half year mandate.
In addition to presiding over committee and coordinators’ meetings, the Chair represents the committee both within and outside Parliament and presides over legislative negotiations led by the committee. The Chair has authority over voting procedures and rules on the admissibility of amendments.
Responsibilities of the committee
The new Fisheries Committee has 27 full members, following the approval by the EP Plenary.
According to the Parliament’s Rules of procedure, the Committee on Fisheries is responsible for:
- the operation and development of the common fisheries policy and its management;
- the conservation of fishery resources, the management of fisheries and fleets exploiting such resources and marine and applied fisheries research;
- the common organisation of the market in fishery and aquaculture products and the processing and marketing thereof;
- structural policy in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including the financial instruments and funds for fisheries guidance to support these sectors;
- the integrated maritime policy as regards fishing activities;
- sustainable fisheries partnership agreements, regional fisheries organisations and the implementation of international obligations in the field of fisheries