Skip to main content

Administrative Board adopts Multiannual work programme 2016-2020 and Annual work programme for 2016

The European Fisheries Control Agency held its Administrative Board meeting and adopted its Multiannual work programme 2016-2020. Ten years have passed since the founding regulation of the EFCA was adopted with the primary objective of organising operational coordination of fisheries control and inspection activities by the Member States and to assist them to cooperate so as to better comply with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, thus ensuring its effective and uniform application. Its main objective remains.

Close cooperation between Member States in fisheries control and inspection activities has significantly improved over the past years. With its cooperation model, the EFCA is playing a key role in ensuring the implementation of the Landing Obligation. With EFCA’s support, the European Union is much better prepared to reduce unwanted catches for the years ahead.

 

Multiannual work programme 2016-2020 and Annual work programme for 2016

The EFCA’s new Multiannual work programme 2016-2020 and the Annual work programme for 2016 provide a comprehensive perspective of the Agency objectives; priorities and activities for the next years in accordance with its mandate and the ambitions of the Administrative Board. 

The legal and operational framework of the Joint Deployment Plans (JDP) will continue to be the mainstay of the operational coordination but may be amplified with the new Specific Control and Inspection Programme (SCIP) decision made by the European Commission for Western Waters and the North Sea. The JDP provides the Member States with cooperation opportunities which beyond coordination and the pooling of inspection platforms offer incentives for improving best practices, risk management and harmonization.

According to its mandate and the priorities set by its Administrative Board, the EFCA will keep on its effort to assist the Member States and the European Commission in the implementation of the control measures applying to the Landing Obligation as new species will be subject to this requirement in 2016. It will be materialized in the range of support activities mentioned above including training with a specific attention to the Omnibus Regulation.

Without prejudice of its commitments within the European Union boundaries, the Agency will support the Union in the international dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. The EFCA’ involvement will encompass the support to the European Commission and of the European Union delegation before and during the Regional Fisheries Monitoring Organisation meetings (RFMOs) when requested, the training of third countries and/or RFMOs’ CPCs on Commission’s request, the contribution to capacity building missions in countries with a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and the participation to dialogue missions in Third Countries.

Next year capacity building instruments will be enhanced by providing e-learning facilities based upon the Core Curricula. Moreover, data networking systems will increase the resources that Member States need for the uniform application of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Administrative Board also accepted that the EFCA will get involved in the European Union common project of building a European Coastguard Capacity, EFCA will form part of the process of establishing a European Coastguard function by providing assistance and expertise on coordination and fisheries control in conjunction with FRONTEX, EMSA, SATCEN, the relevant Commission directorates and other related agencies.

"With this new Work Programme, I am confident that the Agency contribution to a level playing field and better compliance to the Common Fisheries Policy rules will be instrumental in the conservation of fisheries resources," said Pascal Savouret, EFCA Executive Director.