April 23, 2012 – ENVIRONMENTAL group Oceana has hit out at what it claims is the European Parliament’s ‘failure’ to block nearly €1.4 billion in fuel subsidies for the European fishing fleet.
Last week, the European Parliament voted on their consultation to the Commission’s proposal on the taxation of energy products and electricity. A large majority of MEPs rejected an amendment which called for the removal of a tax exemption on fuel for European fishing vessels.
Xavier Pastor, executive director of Oceana Europe, said: “Any real reform of the CFP and the EMFF cannot take place without tackling the fuel tax exemption for Europe’s fishing fleet. The Commission, which recognises overcapacity as one of the biggest problems facing Europe’s sustainable fishing goals, nevertheless failed in its proposal to address the problem of fuel subsidies funding overfishing in our waters. Today, the Parliament also failed, and missed this chance to send a strong signal against harmful subsidies.”
According to Oceana, these subsidies amount to at least €1.4 billion, and allow vessels to fish further out at sea and for longer periods of time, thus adding to pressure on EU fish stocks.