"The ongoing Common Fisheries Policy reform is vital and will, of course, be a central focus of my work," said Ms Damanaki in her introductory remarks, stressing the keywords "sustainability", "democratic responsibility for all partners of the sector", "global dimension" and "compliance".
"I will be proud to contribute to blue growth", said Commissioner-designate Damanaki, who if approved would take charge of a broader integrated maritime policy, adding that this growth will help to unleash the potential of all sea resources and create "blue jobs".
New institutional balance
Opening the hearing, Fisheries Committee chair Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ (EPP, ES) said that the Commissioner-designate's written replies had not been sufficiently detailed on plans for fully respecting the new powers conferred on Parliament by the Lisbon treaty.
"I welcome warmly the fact that fisheries will – in the new institutional environment of Lisbon Treaty - be subject to co-decision as the ordinary legislative procedure, thus securing an even greater role for the European Parliament", replied Ms Damanaki.
Common Fisheries Policy reform
Replying to Maria do Céu PATRÃO NEVES (EPP, PT) on the key priorities of Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), Ms Damanaki said that the reform will seek to streamline and make the CFP more efficient, by "striking the right balance", among the interests of consumers, fishermen, industry, tourism and related activities.
Noting that the reform and the new maritime policy will bring new costs, Ulrike RODUST (S&D, DE), asked about their funding and possible social and economic consequences. Ms Damanaki advocated funding the new Integrated Maritime Policy separately from the CFP. Money could also be saved by good co-operation with other Commission services, e.g. research and transport, she added.
Small-scale fisheries
Replying to Pat the Cope GALLAGHER (ALDE, IE), and others on the difficulties of small-scale fisheries, Ms Damanaki agreed they need a special policy, and said this would be dealt with in the coming reform. On the concerns ofAlain CADEC (EPP, FR), and Jean-Marie LE PEN (NI), about the impact of the possible introduction of transferrable quotas, Ms Damanaki replied that this needed more detailed discussion, but said she would do her utmost to avoid concentration within the industry.
Mitigating social difficulties
In response to fears voiced by Kriton ARSENIS (S&D, EL), about the possible negative social impacts of a new fisheries reform, Ms Damanaki said that she would examine whether the European Social Fund could give assistance to those who may have to stop to work because of the reform. She added that she would try to ensure that older fishermen continue fishing, while younger ones are redirected to other professions through retraining.
Less waste
Ms Damanaki agreed with Isabella LÖVIN (Verts/ALE, SE), about the overcapacity of the fleet. "There is drastic overfishing", she said. To reduce it without striking a blow to fishing communities, resources should be directed to modernisation, e.g. equipping vessels with selective gear that helps to eliminate discards, said Ms Damanaki, adding that to the same end, the system of total allowable catches per Member State and quotas should be reviewed.
However, simply replacing quotas with a system that reduces fishing periods would not be a solution, said Ms Damanaki, in a reply to Marek Józef GRÓBARCZYK (ECR, PL). "We need a tailor-made approach to different sea basins and fisheries", she stressed at several points in the hearing.
Regionalisation and diversification: not re-nationalisation
Ms Damanaki stressed the need to involve regions and local stakeholders more extensively in fisheries policy in reply to Ian HUDGHTON (Verts/ALE, GB), Struan STEVENSON (ECR, GB), João FERREIRA (GUE/NGL, PT) and others, but insisted that "renationalising" fisheries policy "will not be an option".
Fish farming
Guido MILANA (S&D, IT) asked for Ms Damanaki's opinion on the need for special rules and funding for aquaculture, given that the EU imports more fish than it produces. Ms Damanaki agreed on the need to develop the sector "as much as we can".
Ioannis A. TSOUKALAS (EPP, GR) asked the Commissioner-designate whether she believed that aquaculture and sustainable development are compatible. "According to the scientists, they are, under certain conditions", replied Ms Damanaki, advocating "a coherent and consistent aquaculture policy".
Global dimension
"Human rights are the core issue and are not violable," said the Commissioner-designate in reply to a question from Carl HAGLUND (ALDE, SE), on fisheries partnership agreements with third countries.
Nikos SALAVRAKOS (ECF, EL) and Crescenzio RIVELLINI (EPP, IT) asked Ms Damanaki what she would do about third-country fishermen who are not bound by EU rules, flood the EU market, and undercut EU market prices. "I will make sure that imported fisheries products respect EU rules", she answered. She also did not rule out "defensive measures" and added that she would seek in international organisations to ensure that third countries do not break EU rules.
Fight against piracy
Replying to a question by Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (ALDE, ES) on piracy, Ms Damanaki stressed that "the EU has to make sure that its vessels can fish securely, especially off the Somali coast". She pledged to have EU fishing vessels included in the EU Atalanta Operation, which protects merchant vessels from pirates.
