Elements with tag ATQ
Karmenu Vella, commissaire de l'environnement et des affaires maritimes et de la pêche, était l'invité d'honneur à l'assemblée générale d'Europêche présidée par Javier Garat. Durant plus de deux heures, le commissaire a écouté avec attention les préoccupations concernant le développement actuel des politiques de pêche, dans le cadre de la nouvelle Politique commune de pêche.
Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, was guest of honour at this week's Europêche General Assembly meeting which was chaired by the Europêche President, Javier Garat. For up to two hours, the Commissioner listened to the European concerns regarding current developments on fisheries policies, in the framework of the new Common Fisheries Policy.
The Commission will soon propose a regulation setting autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs) for certain fishery products for the years 2024 and 2025. The ATQ regulation cover species such as tuna, pollack, hake, shrimps, cod or flatfish, allowing relatively high volumes to be imported from non-EU countries without paying customs duties or at reduced tariffs. In 1992, barely 6 species representing 43,000 tons could be imported with reduced duties. In 2020, more than 15 species representing approximately 830,000 tonnes of fish entered annually the European market at zero duty. In other words, a staggering 1,928 % increase in volume. These seafood imports are benefitting from tax derogations, regardless of their origin, production methods, stock sustainability or compliance with labour standards. Thus, while the EU keeps an open-door policy for seafood imports, it’s bringing the EU fishing sector to its knees with never-ending waves of environmental and control standards. Europêche calls for po