Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Development Committee on Fisheries Joint DEVE-ENVI-PECH meeting
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ENVI European Parliament
Follow its sittingsHildegard Bentele
This was just to outline our committee's interest in our discussion today and in the following up on the UN Ocean Conference and in the EU Ocean Pact. I'm very much looking forward to hearing our Commissioner. The committee meeting will be conducted as follows. We will first listen to an introductory statement by the Commissioner, followed by two rounds of questions, the first round by groups' representatives, followed by replies en bloc by the Commissioner, and the second round catch-the-eye with other interested MEPs, followed by replies en bloc by the Commissioner and final remarks. Thank you very much.
I give the floor, in absence of our ENVI chair still, I give the floor to our Commissioner.
Costas Kadis
Thank you very much and thank you for the invitation, honorable members. A year ago, many of you stood with President von der Leyen and me at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, where we launched the European Ocean Pact, the European Union's first unified strategic framework for ocean governance.
For the first time, we brought together all EU ocean policies, from fisheries to biodiversity, water management to the blue economy, under a single, coherent approach. Our goal: a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous ocean that supports thriving coastal communities and economies. The ocean connects people, policies, and portfolios, and to harness this potential, we are breaking down silos within the Commission, across institutions, and with stakeholders. Today's joint committee meeting embodies the cross-cutting collaboration the Ocean Pact demands.
From day one after the announcement of the European Ocean Pact, we are working at full speed in order to implement all the actions and policy initiatives that are included in the pact. As we mark its first anniversary, let's assess our progress across its six pillars. For protecting and restoring ocean health, we have taken critical steps to safeguard marine ecosystems. The Water Resilience Strategy adopted this year supports water quality from source to sea.
We have also launched the evaluation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, a process I'll return to later. On sustainable competitiveness of the blue economy, in April we published the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, and the evaluation confirms that the approach we chose in 2013 remains valid. Healthy stocks are essential for healthy fisheries and for the prosperity of our coastal communities. At the same time, we need to reflect on what could still be improved to ensure our policy remains effective for today's realities.
These findings will inform the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture due this autumn. On other blue economy sectors, our Industrial Maritime Strategy and EU Ports Strategy, both adopted in March, are strengthening the competitiveness of a sustainable blue economy. We are also finalizing the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, aligning it with Europe's environmental goals through sustainability, digital transformation, and resilience.
On empowering coastal regions, islands, and outermost regions, these territories face unique challenges but also opportunities. Two weeks ago, we adopted two landmark strategies for coastal communities and islands, offering a coordinated European approach to unlock their long-term potential.
Next month, we will also present our new strategy for outermost regions, helping the European Union's nine outermost regions overcome remoteness and climate vulnerability while maximizing their potential. On advancing ocean knowledge, science, and innovation. On the 3rd of June 2026, we launched Ocean Eye, positioning the EU as a global leader in ocean observation. By 2035, we aim to contribute 35% of the world's ocean observing capacity and secure 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies. Why?
Because despite covering 70% of Earth's surface, only 5% of the ocean has been explored.
Ocean data is vital for climate forecasting, sustainable fisheries, offshore energy, shipping, and security. Ocean-I will integrate fragmented systems, turning data into action through four pillars: better governance, the proposed Ocean Act will unify Europe's approach; global collaboration, we are launching an international alliance to strengthen the global ocean observing system. Canada has agreed to co-lead this effort. The recent Our Ocean Conference in Kenya allowed us to garner further support.
Digital innovation, the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, a virtual ocean model, will soon be publicly available, benefiting global research and industry.
The new European Bauhaus Ocean, Coastal and Island Communities Lab will explore creative ways to present ocean data through public installations, museum exhibitions, and collaborations with artists and designers. Later this year, we will also unveil the Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy, ensuring Europe maintains its leadership in ocean science and translates research into market-ready solutions. The fifth pillar is about strengthening maritime security. The ocean is critical for Europe's trade routes, energy infrastructure, and digital connectivity, including subsea cables carrying 99% of global data traffic. Protecting these systems is essential for our economic stability and security.
To this end, we have adopted initiatives like the Action Plan on Cable Security and measures on drones and counter-drone security. And on the sixth priority, leading international ocean governance, a major milestone was the entry into force of the BBNJ agreement in January. A historic achievement for multilateralism.
Our focus now is implementation. As we prepare for the first conference of the parties in January 2027, we'll work with partners to ensure the agreement is effective, inclusive, and operational without reopening negotiations. The Nice conference was one step toward delivering the United Nations 2030 agenda's ocean targets. Preparations for the 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference are already underway, and I remain fully committed to this process.
At the regional level, the implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean is advancing, with an action plan recently presented and a revision expected in autumn this year. Honorable members, to ensure the Ocean Pact delivers concrete results, we have introduced new governance tools. First, the High-Level Ocean Board, led by stakeholders, held its inaugural meeting in March.
Second, at European Maritime Day in Cyprus, we unveiled the prototype Ocean Pact Dashboard, which will track EU commitments across six priorities in a very transparent way and inform the first State of the Ocean Pact report due by the end of this year. And third, we are finalizing the impact assessment for the Ocean Act, a legal instrument that will formalize policy coordination on ocean matters. And the idea here is to consolidate all existing ocean-related targets into one framework.
While the Ocean Act will build on the revised Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, we are exploring how to possibly integrate core objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, creating a single cohesive legal framework for sustainable ocean management that would avoid duplication and maximize coherence. The importance of implementing the Ocean Pact and the strategies that will be developed within its framework is well reflected in all three pillars of the Commission's proposal for the new MFF. This will ensure the implementation of the Pact through adequate funding. Honorable members, the Ocean Pact's first year proves that ambition drives action.
But this is just the beginning. The ocean faces unprecedented pressures from climate change, pollution, and overexploitation. We won't solve every challenge at once, but we must act now to avert the worst outcomes. Implementation and cooperation must continue. I count on your support to sustain this momentum, and together we can secure a sustainable, prosperous future for our ocean and the communities that depend on it.
Thank you.
Pierfrancesco Maran
Thank you, Commissioner. Now we open the floor to the group representatives for one minute and 30 seconds each. We start with EPP for the ENVI side, Esther Sanz García.
Esther Herranz García
Sí, muchas gracias, presidente. Muchas gracias, señor comisario, por la explicación. Es verdad que se han producido importantes avances en un tema tan importante como el del cuidado de los océanos, que son fundamentales para el clima global, son fundamentales para las economías regionales, y en este caso quiero recordar que también a través de la pesca, no solo para las economías, sino también para la salud humana, porque el consumo de proteína procedente de la pesca es extremadamente saludable para el ser humano.
Le felicito por haber avanzado en el Tratado de Alta Mar, el BBNJ. Es muy importante. Queremos que esa ejecución sea muy positiva y queremos estar al tanto. Le felicito por todas las cosas que nos ha dicho, pero me voy a centrar en lo que nos queda por hacer. El Ocean Act es, creo, una figura clave y, desde luego, estamos con usted en que sea cuanto más amplio mejor.
Si puede estar, como anunció usted, la directiva sobre la estrategia marina acompañando a la directiva de ordenación del espacio marítimo, será muy importante. Y también le digo que para nosotros es importante la financiación. Esos mil millones anunciados por Ursula von der Leyen, de los cuales sabemos que cuarenta van al Global Ocean Program, son muy importantes. La cooperación con países terceros lo es también. Y no me voy a extender más porque sé que mis compañeros de otros grupos políticos tendrán también muchos intereses.
Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Commissioner, for being here with us today.
Jessica Polfjärd
Our seas and oceans are a vital asset for Europe and it's very important that we also can discuss this. Because for Europe's security, for the competitiveness of our fisheries and for the whole sector and to achieve a better environmental status for our oceans, we do need to ensure a level playing field for EU fisheries with third countries. And we need to work against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and ensure that third countries do their part.
In the Baltic Sea, Russia in particular is a major problem. They continue to exploit Baltic Sea fish stocks is an unsustainable manner. And the Russian shadow fleet keeps sailing on our seas. As the Commission works on the European Ocean Act, how will you ensure that the act adequately takes into account the actions of third countries and how will you ensure that EU keeps up the pressure on Russia and counters the shadow fleet? Thank you.
Pierfrancesco Maran
Thank you, no other request from the EPP, so we move to S&D for ENVI, Christophe Clergeau.
Christophe Clergeau
Merci Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, bonjour. Moi je veux lancer une alerte aujourd'hui.
La canicule, ce n'est pas simplement pour le continent, c'est aussi pour les océans. Et dans le golfe de Gascogne, en Méditerranée, nous vivons des canicules à répétition dans le milieu marin qui mettent en danger la biodiversité et qui nous exposent nous aussi à des événements climatiques extrêmes comme des inondations ou des tempêtes. Est-ce que nous faisons assez pour la restauration des océans ? Non. Les stratégies, les évaluations ne changent rien pour le moment dans la réalité.
Et si nous voulons sauver le régulateur du climat que sont les océans, nous devons faire plus et le faire en urgence. Donc Monsieur le Commissaire, depuis juin 2024, nous vous soutenons et nous voulons continuer à vous soutenir. Mais vous êtes la Commission européenne à un moment de vérité.
Est-ce que les engagements concrets sont à la hauteur de la promesse de l'Ocean Pact ? On a les plus grandes inquiétudes concernant le cadre financier pluriannuel. Est-ce que l'effort en direction de la pêche sera au rendez-vous ? Est-ce qu'on aura les moyens d'assurer la restauration des océans quand on voit le risque de disparition du programme LIFE ? Est-ce que les îles, est-ce que les territoires côtiers seront réellement soutenus quand on voit les menaces qui pèsent sur la politique régionale, sur la politique de cohésion ?
Rien n'est moins sûr et je ne voudrais pas que l'élan de l'Ocean Pact se brise sur le MFF.
Et pour terminer, nous avons besoin d'un Ocean Act ambitieux que vous soyez capable de fédérer à travers toute la Commission et de ne pas vous limiter à votre domaine de compétence. Et je voulais vous poser par exemple une question précise dans le domaine législatif. Allez-vous vous battre pour que l'accélérateur industriel européen intègre les industries navales et la construction navale qui sont clés pour la décarbonation ou non ? Si la réponse est non, nous aurons raté une occasion.
André Franqueira Rodrigues
Thank you, Chair.
Bem-vindo mais uma vez, senhor Comissário. Temos tido a oportunidade de nos encontrar com frequência nos últimos meses e o seu entusiasmo genuíno pelo oceano e o empenho que tem colocado em dotar a União de uma nova ambição neste domínio tão crucial para o nosso presente e para o nosso futuro é verdadeiramente apreciado. Da nossa parte, sabe que acolhemos favoravelmente a ambição inscrita no Pacto Europeu para os Oceanos e acreditamos que este novo instrumento tem um potencial verdadeiramente transformador.
Este primeiro ano de implementação trouxe elementos promissores com destaque para a ratificação do tratado de alto mar e para o lançamento do Ocean Eye. Mas sejamos claros. A ambição tem agora de se traduzir em resultados e os pescadores não podem ser deixados para trás. A conferência das Nações Unidas sobre os oceanos em Nice no ano passado enviou um poderoso sinal político mas agora cabe-nos a nós e a si em particular honrar esse sinal com compromissos legislativos e financeiros concretos. E da sua parte precisamos de quatro elementos fundamentais.
Primeiro um calendário claro para os instrumentos vinculativos do pacto para o oceano. O setor das pescas precisa de certeza regulatória para investir e para se adaptar. Em segundo lugar uma integração genuína das pescas artesanais e costeiras na implementação do pacto.
Estas comunidades, como tem dito, são os primeiros guardiões dos ecossistemas marinhos e devem por isso ser valorizadas. Em terceiro lugar, uma ligação coerente entre o Pacto para os Oceanos e a Política Comum das Pescas. São dois processos que não podem correr em separado. E por último, um nível de financiamento adequado. A Comissão anunciou mil milhões de euros para apoiar a conservação marinha, a investigação científica, a pesca sustentável, a proteção e recuperação dos ecossistemas marinhos.
E por isso gostaria de saber em concreto em que nível estamos atualmente.
Senhor Comissário, para terminar, da nossa parte continuará a ter um parceiro construtivo, mas exigente para enfrentar os exigentes desafios que temos pela frente. Muito obrigado.
Pierfrancesco Maran
Thank you. We move to PECH, we have a question from the PECH Committee, Tom Diepeveen.
Ton Diepeveen
Thank you, Chair. I speak in my own language, Dutch. Voorzitter, commissaris, het Ocean Pact spreekt over een gezonde oceaan, een sterke blauwe economie en leefbare kustgemeenschappen. En dat zijn hele mooie woorden. Maar voor onze vissers telt uiteindelijk maar één ding: wordt hun werk eenvoudiger en concurrerender of komt er opnieuw een laag bureaucratie en verplichtingen bij?
Want over dat laatste maken we ons echt zorgen. We zien namelijk een patroon. Dossiers die extra regels, controles en beperkingen op vissers leggen, worden wel opgepakt, maar dossiers die de sector sterker kunnen maken, die blijven liggen. Neem bijvoorbeeld de aanlandplicht, die blijft in de praktijk onwerkbaar. Innovatieve technieken zoals pulsvisserij blijven politiek geblokkeerd of worden al dan niet bewust vertraagd.
Investeren in moderne, veiligere en zuinigere schepen blijft moeilijk door starre regels. Commissaris, we spreken vandaag opnieuw over plannen, strategieën, toekomstige wetgeving. Maar wordt er in al die plannen ook nog gedacht aan onze vissers? En wordt er nog gedacht aan onze voedselzekerheid, zeker nu de Europese Unie al voor ruim 70% afhankelijk is van ingevoerde vis?
En daarom vraag ik u vandaag heel concreet: waar blijft een echte visserij-omnibus? Mijn collega Bert-Jan Ruissen van de ECR heeft er al meermaals op aangedrongen. Niet nog een visie, niet nog een strategie, maar een pakket dat regels schrapt, procedures versnelt en innovatie mogelijk maakt. Ik dank u wel.
Kristoffer Storm
Mange tak. Først og fremmest tak for at være her i dag, hr. kommissær.
EU taler om åben strategisk autonomi og fødevaresuverænitet. Men samtidig så viser tal, at en meget stor del, som min kollega også lige sagde før, af det fisk og skaldyr, der forbruges i Europa, importeres fra lande uden for EU. Lande, hvor vi har svært ved at sikre ordentlige forhold, bæredygtigt fiskeri. Det er til skade for både forbruger, fiskerierhvervet og havmiljøet. Og derfor så rejser det nogle spørgsmål om, hvordan EU vil styrke sin egen forsyningssikkerhed på fiskeriområdet.
Mit spørgsmål går derfor på, hvordan mener kommissæren, at EU's Ocean Pack konkret vil bidrage til at øge EU's egen produktion af fisk og dermed mindske afhængigheden af import fra tredjelande? Og er kommissæren bekymret for, at nye reguleringer og stigende byrder for EU's fiskere kan føre til færre fiskere, altså mindre erhverv og lavere produktion, så EU bliver endnu mere sårbar over for eksterne kriser, dårligt miljø og forsyningsproblemer på fiskerimarkedet?
Så derfor så synes jeg egentlig, at spørgsmålet omkring en fiskeri-omnibus er helt relevant, at vi simpelthen er nødt til at se ind på, hvordan vi bedre kan forenkle fiskernes hverdag, sikre nogle regler, der er nemmere at overholde, sådan så at vi kan styrke vores havmiljø, men samtidig også have et fiskerierhverv, der fungerer og er økonomisk bæredygtigt, så de kan være med til at bidrage til de investeringer, der skal til for at sikre både, at vi har et stærkt fiskerierhverv, men også et stærkt havmiljø i Europa.
Ahora le toca el turno por un minuto y medio al de Renew, al señor Christensen.
Asger Christensen
Tak for det på dansk, og tak for kommissæren igen er til stede ved udvalget her. Det er meget værdsat. Ocean Pact, det handler om bæredygtigt fiskeri, det handler om bæredygtig turisme, det handler om bæredygtig socioøkonomisk politik omkring havet og omkring de muligheder, der er, og så handler det om at udnytte de ressourcer, bæredygtigt at udnytte alle de ressourcer, der er i havet.
Som du sagde kommissær så er 70% af jordens overflade det er vand. Så det er mega mega vigtigt at vi udnytter de ressourcer bæredygtigt hele vejen rundt. Jeg tror også vi kommer til at kigge på at tilførsel af spildevand til vores til vores ocean det er noget som vi skal have prioriteret meget meget meget højt. Så derfor er det en glæde at vi får samlet en samlet politik omkring Ocean Pact. For at netop for at sikre fødevareforsyningssikkerhed netop for at sikre at der stadigvæk er fisk i det blå maritime miljø også i fremtiden.
Så mit spørgsmål er, hvordan sikrer vi, at det er til stede med, at der stadigvæk er fisk i havene? Tak.
Muchas gracias. Por los Verdes, la señora O'Sullivan.
Maria Ohisalo
Thank you very much, Chair, dear Commissioner.
One year after Nice, the oceans are not waiting for us, neither are our international commitments. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework committed the EU to protect 30% of its marine and coastal areas by 2030, including 10% under strict protection, a target set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy also, but never really legislated. The Ocean Pact made a promise of coherence, and the upcoming Ocean Act is meant to deliver this. We are concerned that merging the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is not enough. What we need is an overarching, cross-sectoral legislation where fisheries policy is integrated and structurally bound to the same environmental objectives.
Because without that, one could maybe say that we are rearranging the furniture while the house is still on fire. I would ask you, Mr. Commissioner, to confirm today that the Ocean Act will deliver this binding, cross-sectoral targets that every policy domain must align with, like the climate law. Lastly, on marine protected areas, designation is not protection. We are at 12.3% of EU seas protected. We committed to 30% by 2030.
The Act must make harmful activities within marine protected areas legally prohibited. Commissioner, we need a law, not an intent. Can you give us that promise and can you give us that assurance? Thank you very much.
Rasmus Nordqvist
Yes, thank you very much. Last year in Nice we heard so many beautiful speeches. We talked a lot about marine protected areas.
We had a lot of EU leaders talking about it. We had ministers from around EU talking about it. And still, it's beautiful words. So, so the question remains now here a year after. I mean, first of all, we have those just around 12% protected areas.
So we're not living up to the percentage we promised with the 30%. And also then we have a quality which is extremely low and we don't have any real protection because things like bottom trawling is still taking place. So, so, so my question, the first question would be, what, what are we doing about this?
Is the Commission actually going to set up legally binding rules that what is a marine protected areas? How do we actually protect this and not just this case by case and it depends as we heard last year from the Commission, because that's not going to protect our ocean. And the second is with the revision of the Common Fisheries Policy. If we take the Ocean Pact serious, I mean, what will we do about fishery? Will it come under exactly the same environmental rules as everything else taking place in the ocean?
So actually when we see that we are not sustainable, don't have sustainable fishery, that we then put an end to it.
And we can talk about the Baltic Sea. I mean you you said yourself Commissioner that that the quota set is is not what what's needed. So so what are we doing? And I think that's the answers that remains right now is actually what actions do we see so we follow up on the beautiful speeches from Nice last year.
Gracias. Por el EF a la señora Martins.
Catarina Martins
Obrigada, senhora presidente. Senhor comissário, nós estamos no meio de uma onda de calor e eu vou dispensar-me de explicar a importância do pacto dos oceanos porque devia ser evidente para toda a gente. Mas lembro que o pacto promete uma transição ecológica determinada mas também justa. E nós estamos com muito atraso em regiões onde temos responsabilidades acrescidas como as áreas zonas do oceano que são as regiões ultraperiféricas. E o debate do financiamento europeu só nos causa maior apreensão pelo que vou a exemplos concretos porque como na expressão anglo-saxónica não há como saber se o dinheiro está onde estão as nossas palavras.
Alinhado com o pacto dos oceanos, o arquipélago dos Açores criou uma das maiores redes de áreas marinhas protegidas da Europa. Mas as comunidades estão esquecidas.
Os pescadores estão num limbo, sem saber como ou quando serão compensados. Regionalmente aguarda-se um estudo de impacto retido desde dezembro de 2025, nacionalmente faltam critérios para os 10 milhões de euros anunciados, mas e a Comissão? Vai garantir financiamento europeu adicional e regras específicas para compensar justamente as comunidades das regiões ultraperiféricas? Para além disso, a proteção exige também meios operacionais. Os Açores cruzam rotas atlânticas críticas, mas os meios da Agência Europeia para a Segurança Marítima para a costa portuguesa estão em Sines, a mais de 1000 quilómetros.
Numa maré negra, os satélites não limpam o mar. A Comissão tem de exigir o pré-posicionamento de equipamentos e capacidade operacional diretamente no arquipélago.
E por fim, a ciência. Os Açores têm condições únicas e o PRR financiou o Tecnopolo e o navio Azores Ocean, mas as infraestruturas não funcionam sem pessoas e a comunidade científica enfrenta precariedade crónica e financiamento descontínuo.
Tendo sido aprovado o Observatório Europeu do Mar Profundo no Atlântico, eu pergunto que financiamento permanente vai disponibilizar para fixar equipas estáveis nos Açores e rentabilizar estes investimentos? Obrigada.
Emma Fourreau
Monsieur le Commissaire, il y a un an s'achevait le sommet des Nations Unies pour l'océan, vous y faisiez de belles promesses pour la protection des écosystèmes marins. Vous promettiez notamment un milliard d'euros pour la protection de l'océan, or les comptes n'y sont pas. Le pacte que vous avez présenté se contente de réagencer des mesures existantes sans aucune ambition et surtout aucun élément contraignant pour les États membres. Résultat pour les aires marines protégées, la France invente des niveaux de protection qui ne sont que greenwashing et ne respectent pas les 10 % de protection stricte.
Sur ces mêmes AMP, vous reculez sur la méthode la plus efficace de protection que la Commission avait elle-même proposée, c'est-à-dire l'interdiction des activités destructrices comme le chalutage de fond. Au milieu de toutes ces vaines promesses, il y avait une bonne idée : le lancement du baromètre Starfish, comité scientifique indépendant pour évaluer la santé de l'océan. Un an après l'UNOC, il a rendu son premier bilan. Que nous dit-il ? Que la santé de l'océan se dégrade et que cette dégradation s'accélère parce que les pressions humaines sont au plus haut depuis plus de 50 ans : émissions de CO2 en mer, pollution plastique et surtout surpêche industrielle.
Il faut donc mettre un fin aux pratiques non durables en mer, notamment dans le secteur de la pêche, pour renforcer la protection de la biodiversité. Et cette solution, elle n'est pas nouvelle et elle est sous vos yeux depuis des années.
Un irresponsable politique a récemment dit ici au Parlement européen : l'extrême droite dit que l'on se concentre trop sur la politique environnementale, l'extrême gauche dit que nous détruisons l'écosystème, c'est donc que nous avons une politique équilibrée. Cet irresponsable, c'est vous, et la seule chose que cela veut dire, c'est que vous banalisez l'extrême droite et insultez les défenseurs de l'environnement. À ce moment, j'aimerais avoir une pensée forte pour Mona Khalil, écologiste libanaise qui a œuvré jusqu'au bout de sa vie pour la protection des tortues marines et qui a été tuée lâchement il y a quelques jours par des bombardements israéliens. Monsieur le Commissaire, nous devons être à la hauteur de tous ceux qui sacrifient leur vie pour sauver l'un de nos biens communs les plus précieux, l'océan. Je vous remercie.
Señor Eberhard, de The Left.
Sebastian Everding
Thank you, Chair, I will continue in German.
Sehr geehrter Herr Kommissar, auch von meiner Seite aus herzlich willkommen bei uns. Der Ocean Pact spricht sehr viel von Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, von Innovation, von Koordinierung, und auch viele Kolleginnen und Kollegen legen hier mal wieder den ausschließlichen Schwerpunkt auf die wirtschaftlichen Interessen von Fischerinnen und Fischern. Aber ist es das, was Meere wirklich brauchen? Ich sehe es, unsere Fraktion und viele andere sehen es etwas anders. Man kann wirklich sagen, die Meere brauchen weniger Zerstörung, weniger Tierleid, weniger Verschmutzung und vor allem weniger Übernutzung.
Und deswegen als konkrete Frage an Sie, was ist denn eigentlich ein Meeresschutzgebiet wirklich wert, wenn dort weiterhin Grundschleppnetze und andere zerstörerische Fangmethoden angewendet werden dürfen? Und warum spricht der Ocean Pact nur davon, im Einzelfall zu prüfen, welche Fangtechniken in Schutzgebieten kompatibel sind, statt so grundberührende Fangtechniken komplett aus solchen Gebieten zu verbieten und rauszuhalten? Und weitere Frage ist, welche Vertragsverletzungsverfahren plant die Kommission gegen Mitgliedstaaten, die Schutzgebiete wirklich ausschließlich auf dem Papier ausweisen, aber die gar nicht wirksam schützen? Und als letzten Fragenteil vielleicht noch die Frage, warum der Ocean Pact keine eigenständige Agenda für Fischwohl und für Meerestierschutz enthält?
Und das, obwohl Milliarden Fische und andere Meerestiere durch Fang, durch Beifang, durch Transporthaltung und die Schlachtung betroffen sind. Und warum spricht die Kommission nur von aquatischen Lebensmitteln, aber kaum von wirklich empfindsamen Tieren, die dort gehandelt, geschlachtet, gefangen werden? Einfach die grundsätzliche Frage, ist diese Sprache nicht Ausdruck eines Grundproblems, dass die Tiere im Meer nur als Ressource und nicht als lebendige Lebewesen anerkannt werden? Da würde ich mich sehr auf Antworten freuen. Vielen Dank im Voraus.
Señor Dress de SN.
Siegbert Frank Droese
Thank you, Chair. I will be speaking in German. Herr Kommissar Kadis, vor einem Jahr stellte die Kommission in Nizza den Ocean Pact und dessen Kosten von einer Milliarde Euro vor. Schauen wir uns aber einmal genauer an.
Ein Drittel dieser Summe ist für Forschung und Wissenschaft vorgesehen. Zehn Millionen fließen ins Ausland, um Länder bei der Ratifizierung des Hochseeabkommens zu unterstützen, für Mangrovenprojekte im Ausland und für nachhaltige Fischerei in Tansania. Gleichzeitig werden unsere eigenen Fischer in der Ostsee, in der Nordsee durch Offshore-Windparks, Meeresschutzgebiete und eine gemeinsame Fischereipolitik, die sie als Problem darstellt, aus ihren angestammten Gewässern verdrängt. Herr Kommissar, können Sie hier eine konkrete Zahl nennen, wie viele Euro dieser Milliarde werden tatsächlich ein europäisches Fischereifahrzeug erreichen?
Nicht ein Forschungsinstitut, nicht ein ausländischen Partner, nicht das neue Gremium und sein Dashboard. Wie viel davon kommt bei den Fischern an, frage ich Sie? Und was ist das wahre Vermächtnis dieses Paktes? Eine Vision 2040, ein hochrangiges Gremium, ein Dashboard und bis 2027 ein Ozeangesetz, das die Meerespolitik in einen einzigen Brüsseler Rahmen presst. Das kennen wir schon.
Jeder Pakt endet gleich: mehr Zentralisierung, mehr Berichtspflichten, mehr delegierte Befugnisse und weniger für die Menschen, die tatsächlich zur See fahren und unsere Ernährung sichern. Herr Kommissar, unsere Küstenstaaten brauchen keinen weiteren europäischen Rahmen.
Sie brauchen ihre Gewässer zurück und die Flotten geschützt und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit muss gestärkt werden. Meine Forderung an Sie: Investieren Sie die Milliarden in die europäische Fischerei. Vielen Dank.
Marc Jongen
Ja, vielen Dank, Herr Kommissar. Der European Ocean Pact wird als unverbindliche Rahmenstrategie vorgestellt. Zugleich kündigt die Kommission bereits einen sogenannten Ocean Act für 2027 an. Was kommt, sind auf jeden Fall neue EU-Kompetenzen, neue Berichtspflichten und zusätzliche Belastungen für die Mitgliedstaaten.
Wie können Küstenbewohner und kleine Fischereibetriebe vor einem drohenden Bürokratiemonstrum geschützt werden? Die Kommission setzt außerdem stark auf neue Daten- und Monitoringstrukturen, Ocean Eye, European Digital Twin Ocean. Nun können Meeresdaten sehr wohl nützlich sein und sind auch notwendig für Meeresschutz wie auch für die Wirtschaft.
Doch wer kontrolliert diese Daten und wer garantiert vor allem, dass nicht wie beim Klima unrealistische Modelle zum Einsatz kommen, die dann, aus denen dann Panikszenarien abgeleitet werden? Wasser, Häfen und maritime Infrastruktur sind natürlich längst geopolitische Fragen. Während aber China strategisch in Häfen und Infrastruktur investiert, produziert die EU wieder einmal neue Bürokratie und neue Zertifikatenmärkte, und zwar für die eigenen Länder. Davon profitieren Drittstaaten, die sich eben nicht an diese Regeln halten. Meine Frage ist daher, wie stellen Sie sicher, dass europäische Meeres- und Wasserpolitik nicht nur neue Bürokratie schafft, sondern tatsächlich Europas strategische Interessen, unsere maritime Industrie und unsere Versorgungssicherheit stärkt, insbesondere auch mit Blick auf kleinere Fischereibetriebe, die jetzt schon stark gefährdet sind?
Vielen Dank.
Ahora para esta primera vuelta va a tener la palabra el comisario para contestarle a todos ustedes y luego haremos una segunda vuelta. Señor comisario, cuando usted quiera.
Costas Kadis
Thank you. And thank you for your remarks and your questions. I will try to provide answers and clarifications on the issues that you raised.
Indeed, securing a level playing field for our fishers is a priority for the European Commission. And this is, we try to achieve this through international cooperation, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, especially in the framework of the regional fisheries management organizations.
And in our borders, for the first time from January, we have introduced the CATCH IT system. It is the first ever digital certification system which makes sure that no product deriving from IUU fishing enters the European Union market, and this is, I think, very important.
About Russia and the Russia fleets, the European Commission is working closely with the European External Action Service through a dedicated task force to tackling shadow fleet activities through concrete actions. These actions include sanctions, such as the oil price cap, sanctioning of vessels participating in shadow fleet. Almost 450 vessels are currently sanctioned.
And additionally, we are working with flag and port states to ensure compliance with IMO rules as well as with NATO. And as as regards imports of Russian fisheries products, further to the exchanges that took place recently on this matter in the PECH and INTA committees, the Commission put forward on the 10th of June the the 21st sanction package against Russia, for which discussions are underway in the Council, and for the first time, the package includes also fisheries products.
How the European Ocean Pact will be supported through adequate financial resources. We are very pleased that the priorities of the Ocean Pact are well reflected in all main pillars of the new proposal of the European Commission for the new MFF, in the National and Regional Partnership Plans Fund, in the Global Facility Europe, and in the Competitiveness Fund.
And we were pleased that the proposal from the Cypriot presidency increased, actually it doubled the amount that will be dedicated to this, the ring-fenced amount that will be dedicated to this area. So we believe that there will be adequate funding and support for the policy initiatives of the European Ocean Pact. The small-scale and coastal fishers are in the center of our attention.
We have carried out a lot of initiatives in order to support them. Last year I had an implementation dialogue dedicated to the small-scale coastal fishers.
We have published a vademecum providing guidance and best practices to Member States on how to allocate fishing opportunities so that the small-scale fishers have access to fishing opportunities. And let me tell you that if there will be any targeted amendment of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, this will also take into consideration the needs of the small-scale fishers because this this need was very obvious through the evaluation results, the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation. Simplification is a high priority for this Commission.
Simplification is a high priority for this Commission and indeed we see the need for simplifying our procedures and reducing bureaucracy and that is why soon the Commission will present two proposals for simplification, one about simplifying the procedures of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and another one for simplifying the multiannual management plans for the fisheries sector.
Moreover, if there will be a targeted amendment of the Common Fisheries Policy, this will also have the character of an omnibus or a simplification procedure without, of course, losing the sight of the priorities of the Common Fisheries Policy.
We also agree that we need to increase the European Union production and reduce our dependency to imports, but this should be done in a sustainable way. And how this can be achieved? It can be achieved through promoting healthy ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems mean better catches for the fishers and through sustainable aquaculture. That's how we will reduce our dependency to imports.
How we should make sure that we will have fish for the future?
I think that that was the main result of the Common Fisheries Policy evaluation. We need to continue our efforts to have healthy ecosystems, but at the same time, we need to see the socio-economic dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy. We need science-based approach and ecosystem-based approach that will also take into account the socio-economic aspects of our policy. I feel that we have ambitious and binding targets.
What we need is to implement these targets. So I don't believe that we need to put additional targets under the European Ocean Act. What we need is to make sure that all targets that are relevant to the ocean are under the same roof, under the same umbrella, and their implementation is promoted in a coherent and effective way, and this will be the main aim of the Ocean Act.
About marine protected areas, let me tell you firstly that we have seen progress. About 10 years ago, the percentage of protected areas, the percentage of the European marine area that were protected was only 5%. Now we are at 15%. And I know that there are initiatives from several Member States to further increase this number and approach more the target of 30% of marine protected areas.
I agree with you that protected areas should be effectively protected. And we are in favor of a case-by-case approach because this approach is science-based. It depends on what the scientists will recommend.
If the scientists recommend activities that are compatible to the protection of the targeted habitats and species, then these activities can continue. And let me also mention that we are in favor of the co-management approach.
We have seen successful cases across the European Union where fishers came together with scientists, with the local authorities, with NGOs and participated in the designation and the management of marine protected areas. We are collecting successful cases of co-management and will showcase them as success stories. And finally, I know that time is over, some of you asked about the allocation of the one billion that was announced during the United Nations Ocean Conference. We can provide details on how on how this one billion is allocated in different activities and definitely this this amount will support the implementation of the European Ocean Pact.
Barry Andrews
Thank you very much, Commissioner. Now we start into the second round of catch the eye.
Hildegard Bentele
Please, colleagues, respect the time because we are already running late. I give the floor first to Carmen Crespo from EPP.
Muchas gracias, presidenta, y gracias al comisario.
Carmen Crespo Díaz
Yo creo que el comisario está haciendo una gran labor que está basando en la ciencia, y eso es muy importante para todas sus decisiones, y sobre todo no contraponiendo unos sectores con otros, especialmente el tema del sector de la pesca. El sector de la pesca, fundamental, tiene que buscar y bucear para conseguir oportunidades en el fondo de competitividad y Horizonte Europa para innovar, para la economía circular, como están haciendo muchos pescadores, especialmente en un proyecto Ecomares, recogiendo basuras del mar y reciclándolas también en puerto.
Y eso significa que todos podemos ayudar. Para ello, se ha hecho un esfuerzo pesquero también a lo largo de diez años con un cuarenta y cuatro por ciento menos. Y además, lo que necesitan es para implementar todas las normativas, una simplificación. Un ómnibus de pesca que permita seguir avanzando y por tanto, importantísimo. El pacto de los océanos puede ser una realidad si no contraponemos unos sectores con otros, si nos ayudamos entre todos para una medida necesaria como está haciendo también el sector de la pesca y buscar y bucear en fondos como decía que permita la innovación, como es el fondo de competitividad y Horizonte Europa.
Así que gracias comisario por la labor hecha al respecto.
Barry Andrews
Thank you very much Carmen. Our next speaker is Eric Sargiacomo, please, you have the floor.
Eric Sargiacomo
Merci madame la présidente. Merci beaucoup monsieur le commissaire. Je suis ravi que nous puissions faire le point sur les avancées de nos travaux suite à la conférence de Nice où nous étions avec un certain nombre de collègues ici. D'un autre côté, le groupe S&D a travaillé et a adopté un ensemble de priorités pour la suite du mandat.
Parmi ces priorités, la première priorité vise à promouvoir une nourriture saine et abordable pour tous les Européens. L'idée, c'est qu'il ne doit pas y avoir d'estomac vide en Europe. Car je le rappelle, on a tendance à l'oublier, le but premier de la pêche et de l'aquaculture est de nourrir les gens. La souveraineté passe par l'alimentation. Une alimentation faite par nos producteurs, réduisant les dépendances externes dans un cadre durable, labellisé et protégé des pratiques illégales.
J'attends donc aussi des réponses de la Commission sur un angle mort de notre réflexion jusque-là, celui de l'évolution du règlement sur l'organisation commune des marchés.
Merci beaucoup, Monsieur le Commissaire, pour votre réponse.
Barry Andrews
Merci beaucoup, and our next speaker is our colleague Sakis Arnaoutoglou, please.
Sakis Arnaoutoglou
Thank you, I'm going to speak in Greek.
Κύριε Επίτροπε, ένα χρόνο μετά το σύμφωνο για τους ωκεανούς, το ερώτημα δεν είναι αν η Ευρώπη έχει στρατηγικές, είναι αν έχει τη βούληση να τις κάνει αυτές πράξη. Η πράξη για τους ωκεανούς δεν μπορεί να είναι ένα άλλο κείμενο καλών προθέσεων, χρειάζεται δεσμευτικούς κανόνες, χρηματοδότηση και προστασία για αυτούς που σήμερα μένουν πίσω. Τους μικρούς λοιπόν παράκτιους αλιείς, τους μυδοκαλλιεργητές, τα νησιά και τις παράκτιες κοινότητες. Στην Πιερία, ως αντιπροσωπεία της Επιτροπής Αλιείας το Φεβρουάριο του 2024, είδαμε την πραγματικότητα. Ήταν αρκετοί συνάδελφοι.
Απώλειες παραγωγής, θερμότερη θάλασσα, προβλήματα στο γόνο, αυξημένο κόστος και αποζημιώσεις που δεν έχουν φτάσει ακόμη, κύριε Επίτροπε, στα χέρια των παραγωγών, δύο, ενάμιση χρόνο μετά. Δεν γίνεται η γαλάζια οικονομία να σημαίνει χώρο και ευκαιρίες μόνο για τους μεγάλους, ενώ οι άνθρωποι της θάλασσας παλεύουν μόνοι τους. Γι' αυτό και θέλω να σας ρωτήσω πότε η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή θα παρουσιάσει ένα πραγματικό σχέδιο στήριξης της μέσης και παράκτιας αλιείας με άμεσες αποζημιώσεις, κύριε Ακαντί, ειδική χρηματοδότηση για εκσυγχρονισμό του στόλου, προστασία από τον αθέμιτο ανταγωνισμό τρίτων χωρών και δίκαιη πρόσβαση στο θαλάσσιο χώρο, να τους δώσουμε μια ανάσα επιτέλους ή αν θα μείνουν να καρτερούν;
Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis
Dėkoju, gerbiamas komisare, aš irgi paklausiu lietuviškai. Ačiū. Gerbiamas komisare, džiaugiuosi, kad jūsų patirtis kaip biologo ir gamtos įvairovės saugotojo ir buvusio švietimo ministro, kultūros ministro, sveikatos ministro, žemės ūkio ministro labai gerai demonstruoja, kad jūs galite suprasti, jog vandenynų paktas negali būti įgyvendinamas be visų komisarų bendrų pastangų.
Todėl mano klausimas, kadangi vandenynų paktas apima labai daug sričių, ar jūs įtraukėte kitus komisarus, ypač tuos, kurių portfeliai artimi jums, į bendrą vandenynų pakto įgyvendinimo monitoringą? Toliau antra, pakrančių problematika ir karas. Karas Artimuose Rytuose ir pakrančių bendruomenės, kurios gyvena karo zonoj Viduržemio jūroj. Karas Ukrainoj ir pakrančių bendruomenės, kurios gyvena Juodosios jūros zonoj. Taip pat suprantama, kad karo veiksmai Hormūze teršia, visiškai akivaizdžiai teršia vandenynus ir teršia jūras.
Tai yra siaubinga situacija. Klausimas, ar jūs stebite ir monitoruojate, kaip pasikeitė Juodosios jūros pakrantės, Artimųjų Rytų pakrantės, žvejų situacija ir kokios galimybės finansinės jiems padėti ekstra situacijoj, kuri iš tikrųjų yra labai dramatiška. Ačiū.
Thank you very much. Our next colleague is Monsieur Jamet. Madame Jamet, excusez-moi.
France Jamet
Non. Oui, merci.
Monsieur Kadis, le secteur de la pêche est aujourd'hui à l'os. Et ça fait 20 ans que nos travailleurs de la mer consentent des efforts et des sacrifices considérables.
Alors notre filière pêche effectivement elle a besoin d'une réforme de la politique commune de la pêche avec la réduction de la bureaucratie, avec une réelle lutte contre la pêche illégale qui pille nos ressources mais il faut aussi en finir avec votre politique au doigt mouillé et redonner une véritable visibilité économique au secteur. Ne pas prendre en compte ces exigences témoigne d'un manque scandaleux de respect vis-à-vis de nos pêcheurs et surtout aussi d'une grave atteinte à notre souveraineté alimentaire car nous ne sommes pas dupes. Parler aujourd'hui du pacte sur les océans n'est finalement qu'une manœuvre de diversion pour vous approprier encore plus de compétences pour notre plus grand malheur à tous. Mais Monsieur Kadis, vous êtes commissaire aux océans et à la pêche. Vous avez parlé de tout, de gouvernance, d'approche unifiée, de jumelage de la terre numérique et même de soutien aux artistes sans jamais finalement à aucun moment parler d'un véritable soutien à notre pêche artisanale.
Alors ma question elle est simple : votre but ultime, votre ambition n'est-elle pas finalement de sacrifier et de supprimer définitivement nos pêcheurs artisans ?
Sander Smit
Vielen Dank Frau Vorsitzende. Vorsitzender, Kommissar, ist das Ozean-Paket mehr als eine Koordinations-Exerzitie? Wie will die Kommission die Konflikte zwischen Naturbeheer und zunehmender Benutzung des maritimen Raums, insbesondere mit der Fischerei, konkret lösen, als aus dem Initiativbericht über die maritime Raumordnung hervorging, dass die Fischerei dabei unzureichend mitgenommen wird und dass es kein Level Playing Field in dieser Hinsicht gibt?
Dan nog een punt over het CFP, over het gemeenschappelijk visserijbeleid. Welke rol vindt u dat de visserij in de toekomst moet spelen en hoe wil de commissie en wilt u voorkomen dat visserijbelangen tegenover andere maritieme benutting aan betekenis zal verliezen? Want we hebben natuurlijk die spanningen offshore windenergie, marine protected areas en die visserijbelangen. Hoe ziet u dat, want we hebben op dit moment eigenlijk nog weinig denk ik concrete resultaten gezien sinds het oceanenpact. Waar gaan we naartoe?
Gaan we de visserij en de voedselsoevereiniteit versterken of blijft het bij die afbouw, bij de aanval op onze visserij? Ik wil graag een helder antwoord. Dank u wel.
Thank you, Mr. Smit. Our next speaker is Luke Flanagan.
Luke Ming Flanagan
Commissioner, thanks for your update on the ocean pact and I appreciate the progress that's been made, but our small-scale fishers continue to struggle, whether that's for access to fishing opportunities, access to finance, access to the decision-making tables. Unfortunately, our blue economy is predominantly defined in terms of competitiveness and not in terms of equity and inclusion.
So I've three questions for you. What kind of concrete changes can we expect in terms of support for small-scale fishers in the implementation of the Ocean Pact's commitment to support for small-scale fishers as a priority and a regenerative blue economy that restores the ocean while fostering development, social inclusion, and equity? Will the Commission establish a dedicated council for small-scale fishers? And finally, how will you support fisheries co-management and nature restoration working hand in hand so that synergies between these approaches can be exploited beyond the showcasing of success stories that you have mentioned?
It'd be good to get answers to those three questions. I know you've answered a lot already, but there are people keenly waiting to hear.
Hildegard Bentele
Thank you, Mr. Flanagan. Our last speaker is Mr. Sjörstedt, and then I'll close the list of catch-the-eye because we want to listen the reply of our Commissioner and we have a vote at 9:45.
Jonas Sjöstedt
Tack så mycket ordförande. Jag ska tala på svenska. Ett av våra mest akuta hot mot havet är den ryska skuggflottan. Det är en tidsfråga innan vi ser en större katastrof med dessa enorma slitna oljetankers som trafikerar våra vatten.
Det är också så här som Ryssland finansierar sitt brutala anfallskrig mot Ukraina. Många båtarna är gamla. Många stänger av sina transpondrar, mycket farligt. Många uppfyller inte de särskilda miljökrav som finns exempelvis i Östersjön. Dessutom saknar de här fartygen ofta giltig försäkring.
De har oklara ägarförhållanden. De bryter mot EU:s sanktioner och de fuskar med flaggstater. Jag menar att de svar ni har givit om detta inte är tillräckliga därför att den här trafiken fortsätter med full styrka.
En svaghet är att nu agerar varje stat för sig. Det är uppenbart till exempel att de ryska fartygen nu undviker svenska farvatten därför att vi har beslagtagit flera båtar. Istället åker de i andra länders farvatten. Det krävs en samordning för att stänga Östersjön för den ryska skuggflottan. Är ni beredda att bidra till den samordningen så att denna trafik äntligen upphör?
Tack.
Barry Andrews
Thank you. So I give the floor back to our Commissioner for the last reply.
Costas Kadis
Thank you and thank you for your comments and the questions.
I will try to to address them. About the CMO regulation, this was part of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy. And any actions will be addressed in the framework of the Vision 2040 for the fisheries and aquaculture sector. For example, the issue of labelling and introduction to and the information to to consumers.
About how we support small-scale fisheries for their immediate needs and in the medium and long term. For their immediate needs, when there is a crisis, I think that the Commission responds adequately.
For example, after the crisis in the Middle East, the Commission activated the crisis mechanism under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund in order to provide Member States the ability to provide support to their fishers. As I mentioned in my previous replies, small-scale coastal fishers will be in the center of our attention, for example, in a possible revision of the Common Fisheries Policy. And we are exploring the possibility of establishing an advisory council especially for small-scale and coastal fishers.
Let me also tell you that in the expected amendment of the EMFAF, again there will be measures to support small-scale and coastal fishers. Yes, we have a close collaboration with other commissioners.
Just to let you know that for the development of the Ocean Pact, 22 different services of the European Commission came together because the ocean, of course, covers a wide range of ocean management, covers a wide range of disciplines and of competences. Therefore, we need this cooperation. And this cooperation is also reflected in the Ocean Board that we have established in order to support the European Commission for the implementation of the Ocean Pact.
In the new Ocean Act, which will build on the revision of the spatial maritime strategy directive, fishers and fisheries will be much more visible. And finally, I think that on Russia, we provided already the list of activities that we are taking in order to address the challenges by Russian fleet and illegal activities by Russian fisheries. Thank you.
Pierfrancesco Maran
Thank you very much, Commissioner Kadis, and all members for the interesting and timely exchange of view. It was important to properly take stock of the latest developments since the start of the European Ocean Pact last year.
Of course, we will look carefully at the next concrete declination of the pact and particularly the content of the European Ocean Act. Now we have a small break before the voting session that is from ENVI and DEVE. Thank you.
Barry Andrews
We will, we will resume the agenda with the joint meeting of the Development and Environment Committees, joint committee procedure rule 59. And the first item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. So you're very welcome to today's vote on the implementation and delivery of the sustainable development goals in view of the forthcoming high-level political forum in New York. If there are no objections, the draft agenda can be adopted without modification.
That being the case, we go to item two, chair's announcements. So active interpretation will be provided in 21 languages: German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Finnish, Swedish, Czech, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Croatian, but not Irish, unfortunately. As usual, the meeting file is available electronically via the e-meeting application, and the meeting will be webstreamed. So item number three, the 17th of March minutes. The minutes of the meeting may be found in the members' electronic meeting dossier.
If you have any remarks, please inform the secretariat by midday.
No comments, they will be deemed to have been approved. And now I hand, we now move to item number four, which is the vote on the, on the report. So, this has been prepared by Mr. Mandl of DEVE EPP and Mr. Maran of ENVI S&D, who is also co-chairing the meeting today as ENVI chair. 465 amendments were tabled by MEPs of both committees. I'm aware of the, that the co-rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs have worked hard to reach these compromises supported by the majority of political groups in order to have a strong mandate for the EP delegation to the high-level political forum in July.
So, before starting the vote, I'd like to give the floor to the co-rapporteurs in case they wish to say a few words about the report. So, first of all, the floor to Mr. Lukas Mandl. Lukas, please.
Lukas Mandl
Thank you very much, chair. As our chair, the DEVE chair, has just outlined, it's good to have a strong mandate for the High-Level Political Forum in the UN headquarters in New York in July. That's why these negotiations were extremely important. The Sustainable Development Goals are beyond ideologies, and there is no part of the world that's, that's serving the Sustainable Development Goals more than Europe.
So we have a story to tell. We have also a part to take into the UN reform, and the Sustainable Development Goals are an extremely important outline for that. The negotiations have not only been important but also tough, I have to say. It's good that we have achieved a result. This is also part of our parliamentary process, that in the end we achieve results.
But I want to remember for all of us and reaffirm that we should keep things beyond ideologies and contribute to operative, practical solutions for real problems for real people in Europe and worldwide, and to see the Sustainable Development Goals in their entirety, in their balanced nature. We focus on 6, 7, 9, 11, 17 in our report, but all the Sustainable Development Goals are important and they are only effective if we see them in their entirety. Thanks again to my co-rapporteur Pier Francesco Majorino and all the negotiators for the negotiations. We have achieved a result and we will have a strong mandate, as Barry Andrews has outlined, for July, and that's most important.
Barry Andrews
Thank you, Lukas, and now I give the floor to Pier Francesco Majorino. Pier Francesco, please.
Pierfrancesco Maran
I want to extend a warm thank you to the other rapporteur Lukas and all the shadows and colleagues for their intense work over the past weeks. Today we deliver a report that builds solidly on last year's text whilst recognizing that we have four years left to meet the 2030 agenda. Our discussions were not always easy and it's something we should think about because we may disagree on the tools but we must maintain a united vision of our goals.
Thank you.
Pierfrancesco Maran
But overall, very satisfied with the final text we have negotiated together. Despite a volatile geopolitical environment, this text sets out a clear ambition by focusing on a few strategic pillars. First, the EU's leadership role. We need to build alliances to reach the objectives and mobilizing investment to close the multi-trillion dollar annual funding gap. Second, boosting affordable and renewable energy to drive our strategic autonomy and eradicate energy poverty.
Third, empowering local authorities with the financial and the regulatory tools they need to achieve climate mitigation and adaptation on the ground.
So colleagues, I truly hope we can secure as broad and a stronger mandate as possible today to carry this ambition forward and bring a strong message to the high-level political forum. Thank you. So now we move to the voting session. We make a quick check. So I open the vote.
Vote in favor if your member state is participating to World Cup. Vote red if you are Italian or something similar. Or Irish.
It's not open. Okay, good for you that are participating to World Cup. So we open the vote on the compromise number one. Raising your hand, who is in favor? Who's against?
Who abstain? Adopted. Amendment 114. Who is in favor? Who's against?
Who abstain? Check.
Open the vote. I close the vote, and it's rejected. Amendment 140. Who is in favor? Who's against?
Who abstains? Adopted. Compromise number two. Who is in favor? Who's against?
Who abstains? Adopted. Compromise number three. Who is in favor? Who's against?
Who abstains? Adopted.
Compromise number four. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted.
Amendment 307. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Rejected.
Compromise number five. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted.
Compromise number six. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted.
Compromise number seven. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted.
Compromise number eight. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted.
Final vote by roll-call vote. The vote is open. The vote is closed. And it's adopted by 66 votes in favor, 17 against, and 7 abstentions. Thank you.
Now we make a small break before the next voting session.
So if we take the seat we can go on with the ENVI votes. Please colleagues. I inform you that Thomas Froelichs substitutes for Anja Arndt ESN and Sigbert Droese substitute for Marc Jongen always for ESN. We have to make another... We make another vote to check.
So we open the vote. Please, colleague, many are not voting still. Okay, I close the vote. Okay, so now...
Okay, so now, so now we vote for the report by Marta Temido establishing the European Fund for Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, Agriculture and Rural, Fisheries and Maritime Prosperity and Security for the period 2028-2034. We vote for compromise number one, raising a hand. Who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain?
Adopted. Compromise number two, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted.
Compromise number three, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise number four, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise NRP chapter one, who's in... No, CAP, CAP, CAP one.
Who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise number five, who's in favor? Who's against?
Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise number six, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain?
Adopted. Compromise number seven, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted.
Compromise number eight, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise number nine, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise number ten, who's in favor? Who's against?
Who abstain? Adopted.
Compromise number eleven, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted. Compromise number twelve, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted. CAP two, who's in favor? Who's against?
Who abstains? Adopted. CAP three, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains?
Adopted. Compromise number thirteen, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted.
I kindly ask to raise even who's in favor because in the last they less raise hands on compromise number 14, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted. Amendment 889, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstain? Rejected. Compromise number 15, who's in favor? Who's against?
Who abstain? Adopted. Compromise number 16, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain?
Adopted. Compromise 17, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstained? Adopted. Compromise number 19. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstained? Adopted. Compromise number 20. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstained? Adopted. Compromise number 21. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstained? Adopted. Compromise number 22. Who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstained? Adopted. Final vote. We open the vote.
Roll call vote. We close the vote and it's adopted by 54 vote in favor and 16 against. Congratulations to the rapporteur. Now we have the report by Lukaszewska, guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending regulations. We start with the compromise number 1, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstain? Adopted.
Compromise number 10. Who's in favor?
Who abstain? Adopted. Amendment 412, who's in favor? Who's against? Who abstain?
Adopted. Check, check. I open the vote. I close the vote. Rejected, sorry.
Amendment 420, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstains? Rejected. Amendment 430, who's in favor? Who's against?
Who abstains? Check. I open the vote. I close the vote. And it's a rejected.
Compromise number eight, who's in favor?
Who's against? Who abstains? Adopted. Amendment 476. Who is in favor?
Who's against? Who abstains? Rejected. Final vote by roll call vote. The vote is open.
The vote is closed. And it's adopted by 51 votes in favor, 9 against and 9 abstentions.
Bene. So we move now to item 14 of the agenda. That is an electronic vote.
So now we vote for the item 14, UN Climate Change Conference 2026 in Antalya.
We have an electronic vote here. Question for oral answer to the Council. The vote is open. The vote is closed. And it's adopted.
Now we vote for the question for oral answer to the Commission. The vote is open. The vote is closed. And it's adopted. 52 vote in favor, 8 against, 8 abstention.
Now we move to 15, Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation number 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead in certain fishing tackle. The author is Pietro Fiocchi. We have an electronic vote. We open the vote. We close the vote and it's rejected.
We note of the 15 in favor with the hand and 54 against. Now we have the objection pursuant to rule 115 of the rules of procedure on the commission implementing decision renewing the authorization for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified maize NK603. The co-authors are Pietikäinen, Borzan, Hazekamp. It's a roll-call vote. We open the vote.
We close the vote.
And it's adopted by 42 votes in favor. Now we have the item 17, objection on the Commission implementing decision renewing the authorization for the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified soybean MON 87705 pursuant to the regulation. The co-authors are Pietikäinen, Borzan, Hazekamp, Eickhout. It's a roll-call vote. We open the vote.
We close the vote.
And it's adopted. Now we have the item 18. It's always an objection about the genetically modified maize. The co-authors always Pietikäinen, Boeselager, Häusling, and Hazekamp. It's a roll-call vote.
We open the vote. We close the vote.
And it's adopted. Now the objection 19, the submission of the due diligence statement, simplified declaration for micro or small primary operators, contingency arrangements and further measures simplifying the use of the information system. The author is Anja Hazekamp. It's a roll-call, no, it's an electronic vote. We open the vote.
We close the vote and it's rejected, 59 against, 10 in favor.
Now we make a small interruption.
Now we have a small break before the next point.
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