The European Parliament adopted by 574 votes to 24, with 2 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 as regards fishing authorisations for Union vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters.
Parliament adopted its position at first reading, in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.
The Regulation proposed by the Commission aims to extend, for the year 2020, the application of the contingency measures relative to the sustainable management of external fishing fleets regulation adopted in March 2019 under Regulation (EU) 2019/498.
Under the Regulation, United Kingdom fishing vessels may carry out fishing operations in Union waters in accordance with the conditions set out in the Council Regulations fixing fishing opportunities for 2019 and 2020, provided that the fishing opportunities set by both the Union and the United Kingdom combined are in line with the sustainable management of the relevant stocks.
In order to enable both Union and United Kingdom operators to continue to fish in accordance with the relevant fishing opportunities allocated to them, fishing authorisations for activities in Union waters should only be granted to United Kingdom fishing vessels if and in so far as the Commission satisfies itself that the United Kingdom grants access rights to Union fishing vessels to conduct fishing operations in United Kingdom waters on the basis of reciprocity.
This Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and should apply from the date following that on which the Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom, unless a withdrawal agreement concluded with the United Kingdom has entered into force by that date.