Council agrees negotiating position on new EU fisheries statistics framework to modernise data collection for fisheries and aquaculture.
Member States Back Negotiating Mandate for Data Regulation
EU member states have agreed a negotiating mandate for a new regulation designed to modernise the European framework governing fisheries and aquaculture statistics.
The agreement in the Council of the European Union allows negotiations with the European Parliament to begin on legislation intended to overhaul how statistical data on fishing activity and aquaculture production is collected and used across the European Union.
The proposed regulation aims to improve the availability of reliable and timely data used to design, implement and evaluate EU policies, including the Common Fisheries Policy, while also supporting the sustainable management of marine resources and the development of the blue economy.
Maria Panayiotou, Cyprus’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, said the updated framework is intended to improve access to information used in policymaking.
“Once adopted, the new framework will help ensure that policymakers, researchers and stakeholders have access to high-quality data to support sustainable fisheries, responsible aquaculture and evidence-based policymaking across the European Union,” Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus, said.
Five Existing Regulations to be Replaced
The proposed legislation would replace five existing EU regulations that currently govern statistical data collection across several areas of the fishing and aquaculture sectors.
These rules cover the reporting of fish catches and landings, information on the EU fishing fleet and statistics on aquaculture production.
Under the new proposal, those separate regulations would be consolidated into a single legal framework intended to simplify the system and improve consistency in the way data is collected and reported by member states.
EU officials argue that merging the existing rules should improve efficiency and reduce fragmentation in the statistical framework while maintaining comparable data across the bloc.
Greater Use of Digital Data Sources
The Commission proposal also seeks to expand the use of modern data sources and digital technologies within the statistical system.
This includes greater use of administrative data as well as electronic databases and digital registers.
According to the Council, the aim is to improve the quality, comparability and reliability of European fisheries statistics while making data collection more efficient.
At the same time, the framework is intended to ensure that statistical reporting remains robust enough to support fisheries management, policy development and scientific analysis.
Member States Seek Balance on Reporting Burdens
During discussions on the Commission’s proposal, EU countries introduced clarifications concerning several elements of the draft legislation.
These include the scope of data collection, the detailed reporting requirements placed on member states and the balance between expanding statistical information and limiting administrative burdens.
Governments argued that while better data is necessary for policymaking, the system must avoid imposing excessive reporting obligations on national authorities or economic operators within the fishing and aquaculture sectors.
Negotiations With Parliament Expected Later This Year
With the Council now having agreed its negotiating position, discussions with the European Parliament are expected to begin later this year under the ordinary legislative procedure.
The two institutions will need to reach agreement on the final text of the regulation before the new statistical framework can be formally adopted and implemented across the European Union.