Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 2022

Infringement cases open at year-end 2018 - 2022

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By clicking on the multi-level chart, you can consult, for 2022, the number of infringement cases open at the year-end per policy sector and per type of infringement.

Compliance promotion activities in 2022

Guidelines on how to implement EU law

• The Commission issued a guidance document on a common approach to checks and verifications under the catch certification scheme, as provided for in Chapter III of the EU Regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU Regulation) (Council Regulation (EC) 1005/2008). This document complements the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the practical implementation of the IUU Regulation, published in 2021 and provides detailed steps to be considered by Member States’ competent authorities when fishery products are presented for import into the EU. More info on the EU IUU policy is available here.

• The Commission adopted formats for the national work plans and annual reports on data collection in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors that Member States need to submit to the Commission in accordance with the Data Collection Framework Regulation: See Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/39; and Work Plan and Annual Report (WP/AR) template.

Meetings with Member States

• The Expert Group on Fisheries Data collection continued assisting the Commission in the implementation of the Data Collection Framework Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1004), in particular with the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
• The Regional Coordination Groups set up by the Member States and the Commission continued coordinating data collection under the Data Collection Framework Regulation, in each sea basin or activity sector: Baltic, North Sea and Eastern Arctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean/Black Sea, Large Pelagics, Long Distance Fisheries, socio-economic data issues.
• The Commission continued making regular use of the Fisheries control expert group, including its subgroup on data management and electronic reporting systems, to promote an effective and uniform implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy rules on control laid down in the Control Regulation and the IUU Regulation across the Member States. Moreover, the Commission promoted the creation of a sub-group on engine power, to further work on the harmonised implementation of the Control Regulation concerning engine power certification and verification.
• The Expert Group on Fisheries and Aquaculture continued to assist the Commission in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy including on Aquaculture issues.

Other compliance promotion tools

• Pursuant to the Control Regulation, the Commission carried out several audits and verifications to assess compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, mostly focussing on weighing practices and catch registration of fishery products. A specific audit cycle for the Baltic Member States was initiated and is expected to be concluded in 2024.
• The Commission carried out fact-finding visits to several Member States to gather information on their IUU-related import controls, in particular on implementation of the IUU catch certification scheme established by the IUU Regulation. Good implementation of the related provisions in the IUU Regulation has been promoted in the context of these visits.

Follow-up given to petitions

In 2022, the Commission did not handle any petition concerning an alleged breach of EU law in the policy area of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Important preliminary ruling

• Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine and Sea Fisheries Protection Authority – C-564/20.

Outlook for 2023

In 2023, the Commission will continue important enforcement work in the area of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. In particular, the Commission plans to:

• Continue monitoring the correct implementation of the Control Regulation, including by bilateral dialogues, audits and verifications in the fisheries sector as regards:
  • the weighing and catch registration obligations;
  • data exchange between Member States;
  • the national sanctioning systems;
  • the control over Bluefin Tuna farms; and
  • the control over the external fleet.
     

• Continue monitoring the Member States’ obligation to establish maritime spatial plans in line with the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (Directive 2014/89/EU).
• Continue legal enforcement in line with the Commission strategic priorities for all the above-mentioned areas by following up on existing and launching new infringement cases as necessary.
• Consider organising package meetings with relevant Member States as appropriate.