The European Parliament adopted by 529 votes to 26, with 59 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council defining characteristics for fishing vessels (recast).
The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure takes into account recommendations of the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.
The proposed Regulation consists of a recast of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86. It aims to establish the definitions of the characteristics of fishing vessels which apply to all EU fisheries regulations. The definitions concern the characteristics of fishing vessels, such as length, breadth, tonnage, date of entry into service and engine power.
The definitions laid down in this proposed Regulation should be based upon initiatives already taken by specialist international organisations. They shall take into account the United Nations Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, signed in Geneva on 29 April 1958, the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, signed in London on 23 June 1969 and the International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, signed in Torremolinos on 2 April 1977.
The Commission would have the power to adopt delegated acts in order to adapt the reference to the relevant ISO International Standards setting out the requirements for the determination of the continuous engine power to technical progress.