Source: European Parliament
The communication on the marine action plan (AP) seeks enhanced cooperation amongst all the stakeholders involved to achieve the most sustainable use of fishery resources while minimising the impact of activities in the framework of existing legislation.
The roadmaps are a suggestion on how the Commission envisages that Member States could plan their activities with the objectives of the AP in mind.
As identified in the in the mid-term review of the 8th Environment action programme[1], few Member States delivered roadmaps. Their submission by the Member States is not a legal requirement.
The Commission is directly involved in constant dialogue with the Member States to adopt the most appropriate fisheries management measures for the sustainable use of marine resources.
Progress has been made on both the Commission and Member State sides. The absence of roadmaps for some Member States should not detract from the progress towards the objectives proposed by the AP.
The Commission will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with Member States to adopt robust measures that are fit for purpose, with or without a national roadmap in place.
Dialogues include Member States through several Commission expert groups[2], as well as other stakeholders in the framework of the Joint Special Group established under the AP.
Following the outcomes of these groups, and taking into account other relevant policy developments, the Commission will continue to monitor the situation in the context of whether further measures or proposals are necessary to work towards the objectives of the AP.
In addition, the Commission now counts on the Nature Restoration Regulation[3], with clear targets and objectives, to complement the ambition of the action plan.
- [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/environment-action-programme-2030_en.
- [2] Such as the Member States’ Fisheries Regional Groups, the Marine Expert Group and the Marine Strategy Coordination Group.
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ, 29.7.2024.