At the end of the preparatory meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York, Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, welcomed the consensus achieved by the Parties on tackling destructive fishing practices.
Mr Borg said that the European Union had worked in a positive and constructive manner toward consensus-building on the most effective way to tackle fishing practices that have a destructive impact on fragile marine ecosystems.
The Commissioner said that he was particularly pleased by the fact that the UN consensus marks a new and important step towards strengthening and responsibilising Regional Fisheries Management Organisations in relation to the governance of the high seas.
The EU approach focused on ensuring acceptance of both the need to apply the precautionary principle and for urgent action to put in place measures that are effective and have a realistic chance of being applied. This is, of course, an on-going process and the EU will continue to play a full part in ensuring its success.
Commissioner Borg said that he was confident that the text agreed last week would become a resolution when the General Assembly meets on 7 December. The Commission will shortly table concrete proposals to the Council on the areas of EU responsibility in this domain.
