The European Parliament adopted by 600 votes to 14, with 5 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks.
Parliament adopted its position at first reading according to the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:
Amendment of the multiannual plan: it is explicitly stated that any amendment to the multi-annual plan, apart from the exceptions specified in the regulation, would have to be adopted via the ordinary legislative procedure.
Adoption of delegated acts: before taking a decision to adopt delegated acts to set fishing mortality rates and associated spawning stock biomass, the Commission should be required to use scientific data from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and consult the relevant Regional Advisory Council.
Parliament proposes to limit the delegation of power to a period of three years (renewable) from the date of entry into force of the Regulation and to oblige the Commission to present a report on its exercise in order to have a regular evaluation and questioning of the use of the delegation.