Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you very much for your comments, which I have listened to very carefully. I would like to underline the following: What this Parliament is asking for, and what we do in our work, is that the measures always have the highest technical and legal rigour and that they are precisely implemented in time, because we have fishermen practising their profession in the areas of these conventions and who need to know, to have guarantees, in this case legal guarantees, that what they are doing is the right thing and, therefore, there must be transparency and simplicity in the measures so that they are easy to understand for everyone. And look, that's exactly what happened in the NAFO dossier, it was a very quick transposition. In almost three months the transposition was done without any problem. Now, what happened in the case of the Western and Central Pacific Convention was quite different, because there it was the Commission itself, to our astonishment, that delayed the negotiation process by not showing any kind of openness – and there is a history that obviously shows that I am not missing the truth here – and that did not in fact allow the negotiation to proceed at the best pace, and so things are what they are. We considered our proposals to be valid and I would therefore suggest, in a spirit of absolute openness and constructive spirit, that there may also be a little more openness and more flexibility on the part of the Commission in these situations where we present our proposals, because I believe that, together - Parliament, the Commission and the Council - we can do much more to simplify these implementation procedures without compromising their rigour and also seeking to improve what can be improved here, therefore without assuming that this House is just a verb to fill and that there is no room for improvement. So what we are looking for is to ensure the full applicability of the Common Fisheries Policy and so, on our part, it is in that spirit that we will continue to work with the Commission and the Council on future dossiers.

Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to begin by recalling that on 16 February this year the Commission presented a proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2019/833 in order to transpose into European Union law the conservation and enforcement measures adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, to which the European Union has been a contracting party since 1979. The main objective of that proposal is to transpose into EU law the amendments to the conservation and enforcement measures adopted by NAFO at its annual meeting in September 2021. These proposals include, for example, improvements to the wording of NAFO and adapting its wording to the legal context of the European Union, as well as transposing the revised provisions on additional procedures and serious infringements related to the use of some fishing gears. In this context, I consider that the European Commission's proposals fully comply with the principles for a rapid transposition process into EU law, and therefore no amendments have been tabled. In another file, on 23 March 2021, the European Commission submitted a proposal to incorporate into EU law the conservation and management measures adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which is responsible for the management of fisheries resources in this region and which is responsible for adopting measures for the conservation and management of marine biological resources under its responsibility, which are binding on all contracting parties. The EU fleet authorised and licensed to operate in the Convention area is rather small, but the quantities caught are considerable and have a significant impact on the management of these resources. This is why it is important to stress the importance of technical measures and monitoring of the use of fish aggregation devices and protection measures for some sensitive species. I also believe that the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) should be involved in the data transmission scheme between the Convention Secretariat, the Member States, the masters of European Union vessels and the European Commission. The European Fisheries Control Agency is the Union agency that coordinates national operational activities in the fisheries area and assists Member States in their implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, so we should effectively start including EFCA more in all these processes. I would also stress the importance, in conclusion, of including the annexes to the regulation to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, which stems from the need to ensure legality within the framework of the Treaties. I would also point out that the Court of Justice of the European Union has already drawn our attention to the need for this inclusion. In short, when adopting conservation and management measures taken by regional fisheries management organisations, the European Union should ensure that the measures adopted are in line with the ambitious objectives set by the Common Fisheries Policy, which means that, in order to ensure minimum impacts on habitats, resources and species, the Common Fisheries Policy should apply to all EU fleets, regardless of their geographical area of operation.

Madam President, in fact, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created enormous pressure on global food security, which, as we know, has already been very weakened since the COVID-19 period, and so we are talking about a worrying increase in the number of people in the world facing imminent hunger. And if we think that more than 36, about 40 nations around the world imported more than 50% of their grain from countries like Ukraine and Russia, we understand the extent of the catastrophe that one might be guessing. And so, in this context, it is important that we study and speed up the alternatives on the ground to the blockade of Ukrainian ports – and I welcome here the efforts that the Commission has made to open up the functioning of solidarity lanes, which facilitate the transport of cereals and goods – but I warn that the reports are very worrying, including the lack of knowledge about the functioning of these solidarity lanes, and in parallel, to conclude, it is important to monitor the functioning of these corridors and other routes to ensure that there is no destabilisation of the functioning of the markets of the countries of passage.

I would like the treatment to be the same and it is a very quick question, since the Commissioner's answer was also very quick, okay? It is very fast and I would like to ask, if I may, to what extent the issue of integrated pest management is being addressed in this new legislation, not least with regard to greater homogeneity of the rules on integrated pest management in the context of the European Union. And I must also say that, with regard to the first question, I was not entirely satisfied, but I understand that at this point we are all very tired and with little availability for the answer.

Madam President, Commissioner, I defend and believe that the objectives outlined in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies are key to establishing the path, the path towards more sustainable agri-food systems. And, in that sense, they should obviously also serve to stimulate the emergence of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, such as biological active substances or the promotion of natural pest control methods. That is why I ask, in the context of this new proposal for legislation, how it is being considered, or whether it is being considered, the need to speed up the authorisation process for substances that are low-risk in agriculture and with full respect for safety for public health and the environment.

Madam President, as has often been said, the islands of the European Union generally face permanent structural disadvantages, such as the small territorial dimension, often associated with a very difficult topography, low population density, which is also reflected in small internal markets that are very dependent on local products, which they can only mitigate through another huge dependency: maritime and air transport. In addition to the structural disadvantages, our islands, in particular the outermost regions, are still at the forefront of the regions most affected by climate change, suffering an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters with a huge impact on their economy, their ecosystems, not to mention the cases in which they even take human lives. It is therefore essential to draw up a specific strategy for the islands of the European Union, with clearly defined priorities for action, in order to reduce the impacts of their structural disadvantages and promote the development of measures to combat, prevent and adjust to the new challenges they face.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, as rapporteur for this own-initiative report, I should like to begin by congratulating the Commission proposal on the new strategy for a sustainable blue economy in the European Union. I must say, however, that I also regret the absence of specific targets for the different sectors, in particular for fisheries and aquaculture. Fisheries and aquaculture are key to providing Europe with healthy, high nutritional value and low carbon footprint food. But there is still a long way to go towards greater economic and environmental sustainability. In this context, our fishermen must be able to be at the forefront of the efforts to reverse the loss of marine biodiversity, due to the major socio-economic impact that such losses can have on the EU fisheries sector. This requires developing more innovative actions that boost investment in sustainable solutions in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, through funding under the new EMFAF, in synergy with other European Union programmes such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility. And let us not forget that effective marine protected areas can be extremely beneficial for fishing and for the sustainability of fish stocks. That is why science-based investments must be made to create marine protected areas that are not only on paper, but that can guarantee the long-term sustainability of resources and, with it, the economic sustainability of all fishermen and not just a few. Another message I would like to highlight concerns the scope of the blue economy. This broad segment of our economy encompasses all industries and sectors related to oceans, seas, coastal areas and even land-based aquaculture and algae production. But this also presents an increased challenge, because we talk about sectors that often have different objectives and visions, sometimes even antagonistic, which, in a context of lack of strategic planning of maritime space, causes damage, and is worrying, especially to more fragile sectors, such as artisanal fishing. The European Union and the Member States must therefore seriously address this reality which represents a further step in the right direction. stress Socioeconomic growth is on the shoulders of our fishermen. A sustainable blue economy should also include the balanced development of emerging activities such as blue biotechnology, ocean energy production or tourism, but always alongside more traditional activities such as maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture, which should receive equal support in the quest for their sustainability. As regards international ocean governance, it should address environmental issues on a cross-sectoral basis, ensuring a level playing field and equal treatment of all maritime economic activities. In this context, I would like to welcome the role of Regional Sea Conventions and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations in strengthening governance based on the best available scientific knowledge. I must also stress the role of women. Throughout the sustainable fisheries value chain, they are key, particularly in coastal communities, and should also have access to decent working conditions and incomes, as well as greater visibility and representation in decision-making structures and processes. And I conclude by recalling that, in order to increase the competitiveness and economic performance of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, particular attention must also be paid to vocational training, lifelong learning and the dissemination of scientific, technical and innovative practices, and this implies, among other measures, stronger and broader cooperation between schools, universities, public authorities and industry, in order to promote actions based on the best available scientific knowledge, capable of ensuring economic competitiveness, ensuring the environmental sustainability and social inclusion of these sectors so important for our food security and for the future of our food autonomy.

Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome the recognition of organic farming as a strong component of the European Union's journey towards more sustainable food systems. The path towards increasing the consumption and production of organic products and also reaching the target of at least 25% of organically farmed land is, however, still long and difficult. I would therefore like to emphasise the role that public policies, in particular the Common Agricultural Policy, will play in this direction, helping farmers in this transition, both through financial support and through advisory and training services. At the same time, a harmonious development of the organic sector will also involve focusing on markets and supply chains, as well as promoting measures that stimulate demand for organic food, thereby ensuring prosperity and market stability, fair remuneration for farmers and affordable prices for consumers.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we know that animals have an intrinsic value, regardless of their usefulness to humans. They are sentient beings and, as such, cannot be subjected to degrading treatments that contradict their nature and objectify them. Animals are not just things. European regulations have allowed a positive evolution in the way animals are treated in the European area. However, we can and must do more and better. As identified by the evaluation study on the implementation of European legislation, there are several issues that require attention and solutions. This is the case for the lack of provisions adapted to the needs of the different species, the lack of harmonisation in the quality and availability of data, the problems of implementing the legal rules, and sometimes even cases of poor controls. These are problems that we want to see resolved in the European Commission's announced revision of animal welfare legislation. Ladies and gentlemen, let us not forget that our collective ethics are also expressed in the way we treat animals.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, today we conclude with this debate a long process that began 18 months ago. We listened to experts, we went to the field to know different realities, we did studies, we debated exhaustively among ourselves, and well! Because animal welfare is a flag of this institution present in many legislative and non-legislative documents and the transport of live animals is clearly an inseparable part of animal welfare. At this point, I would like to thank my fellow co-rapporteur, Daniel Buda, and my fellow rapporteurs for their frank and cordial cooperation and constructive approach in finding solutions that have enabled us to reach such a large number of compromises. Each of us has a perspective on the best solutions for animal transport and on choosing the best paths for system change. But there is something that unites us: is that none of us accepts the reality of animal suffering during transport that we have witnessed all too often. In the mandate of this Commission, we have had the responsibility to investigate alleged violations in the application of Union law on the protection of animals during transport and to produce a report with our findings. I believe that we have been extremely successful in this respect, and the report was adopted in committee with only one abstention. There we first identify the problems and limitations in the current application of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. We find that there are infringements that are often documented: transport of unfit animals, overcrowding of means of transport, inadequate drinking systems, transport under extreme temperatures, lack of contingency plans, use of means unsuitable for transported animals, among others. A scenario to which are added the different interpretations that Member States make and a system of controls and sanctions without homogeneity and that therefore loses efficiency and effectiveness. This is also an outdated regulation, with unclear forecasts, where there are no concrete definitions, a regulation that is out of line, moreover, in several respects with what science tells us today, a regulation that fails to establish adequate provisions for some species, such as birds and rabbits, and for others does not even present anything, as is the case with aquatic animals. A regulation with inadequate rules for highly vulnerable animals, such as unweaned and end-of-life animals and pregnant females. We therefore believe, in the light of these conclusions, that we were required to take more determined action, and we have put this into practice in a document containing recommendations to the European Commission and the Member States, which we are voting on this morning. The compromises presented by the rapporteurs present a path of unambiguous ambition, which makes a real difference in the protection of animal welfare during transport. A path that is more than necessary, but which we present as an ambition that develops in respect for geographical differences and limitations, differences in infrastructure development and different capacities to respond to sudden changes on the part of the rural world. We therefore believe that, on this ambitious path, we must also consider the social dimension of what we are proposing. How will all this affect the people who depend on these activities taking place in territories that are already as depressed as many of our rural areas are? We need ambition and we need to bring about change, but in a socially conscious way that respects territorial cohesion. We therefore call on the European Commission to present, no later than 2023, an action plan that clearly identifies the driving forces behind animal transport and proposes concrete policy actions to reduce the need for the transport of live animals, promoting their replacement by meat, carcasses and genetic material, and bearing in mind the need to minimise the socio-economic impacts of such a change. The revision of the regulation on animal transport is a necessity and an urgency, which is no longer discussed. We must have clearer exhibition forecasts on the compulsory training of all those involved in transport. We must have a control system that really works and is dissuasive. We must have a more homogeneous framework of sanctions, with reinforced retrospective controls and on the basis of a stronger common European framework. Another key point concerns the need to improve several provisions on maritime transport, which is not adequately covered by the current Regulation. But I stress here the importance of this means of transport for some countries, as I am sure everyone knows, even with regard to its internal territorial cohesion. We ask for a more attentive and demanding look at animals that are not even included in the current rules and at animals from vulnerable categories, such as end-of-career animals, for their lower economic value, which are in a situation of enormous vulnerability. I am also talking about pregnant animals and unweaned animals. For all these animals, we propose amendments that make a substantial, non-rhetorical difference to the current framework regarding the protection of animal rights during transport. I would also stress, with regard to journey times, something that seems to me to be very important, that the limitation of 8 hours of transport for animals intended for slaughter, taking into account the geographical specificities, particularly of the outermost regions, would be an important step in reducing the number of animal transports. This should go hand in hand with improving structural conditions by mobilising support to improve the network of local and regional mobile slaughterhouses. I would also stress, with regard to journey times, that wanting to go beyond what we propose is, in some cases, technically impossible and therefore unrealistic because of the geographical and infrastructural constraints of various regions, and in other cases even amounts to the creation of internal barriers within Member States, making it impossible to transport animals within those same countries. I would also remind you that there are no outermost regions without maritime transport. As far as animal transport is concerned, this is far from being possible in 24 hours. Ladies and gentlemen, the work of this committee of inquiry is the work of all of us, which represents a very important contribution to the paradigm shift and which, I believe, will make a real difference in defending animal welfare during transport and in transforming mentalities.

Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, for three years we have been discussing the future of the CAP with farmers and citizens with our eyes on us. For three years we have insisted on the importance of stability and predictability of support to farmers and the importance of meeting one of the main objectives of this policy: ensuring fair and dignified conditions for agricultural activity, a key pillar of our rural world. Three long years of discussions, difficult negotiations, culminating in the agreement reached under the Portuguese Presidency and ending today with the vote on this new CAP. A CAP that is not perfect, that does not meet all expectations, but that also brings achievements, much thanks to the action and negotiating determination of this Parliament and that should be valued, not underestimated. The new CAP integrates, for the first time, the instrument of social conditionality, a key instrument in achieving greater social justice for all those working in the agricultural sector, and which expresses the commitment of our democratic societies to labour dignity as an integral part of human dignity itself. The new CAP also incorporates a new environmental ambition, present in new instruments such as eco-schemes, which, together with other measures, build the necessary safety net to support farmers in the transition to production practices and techniques that allow a better preservation of natural resources, the protection of biodiversity, the fight against climate change. The new CAP, I repeat, is not perfect, but it has my positive vote out of respect for all these achievements, which have been hard-won in this House, and which it would be unbearable and incomprehensible to postpone any longer. And my positive vote does not deprive me of legitimacy to criticize what she could have gone further and was not. And I will exercise my right to criticism by closely monitoring the steps that will be taken to achieve the objectives and ambitions on the ground where the CAP must be effectively delivered.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the challenges of the climate crisis, the rampant loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, which affects more than 800 million people in the world, are warning us of the impending non-return. Avoiding this point is therefore an imperative of ethics and survival to which political action must be able to respond. As a pillar of society and the management of natural resources, food systems at all stages and with all those involved, from farmers to consumers, from industry to commerce, are central to the change that is required and therefore deserve, particularly farmers and fishermen, all the support and all the instruments necessary for this change. The message of the report we are debating today reflects the complexity of the task, the result of a challenging exercise, with difficult balance between visions. This report is an example of the democratic maturity that the European Parliament conveys to citizens and which must be valued.