Press release: October 2019
EU Ombudsman piles pressure on Council over fishing quota transparency
The EU Ombudsman has demanded the Council of the European Union release more information on fishing quota negotiations between governments, following a ClientEarth legal complaint.
Less than two months before European fisheries ministers decide on fishing limits for 2020, the move could open up the current opaque decision making process, which blocks public scrutiny and keeps member state positions secret.
On Friday, the ombudsman issued a formal recommendation for the Council to “proactively publish” all relevant documents while the decision-making process is ongoing, to “promote greater transparency of environmental information”.
The decision follows a complaint ClientEarth lawyers lodged against the Council after many years of unexplained fishing quotas set above the scientific advice for the recovery and long-term sustainability of fish populations.
ClientEarth environmental democracy lawyer Anne Friel said: “The ombudsman’s recommendation couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment for the EU’s fish stocks, as 2020 is the legal deadline to end overfishing. If EU ministers are to meet this deadline, public scrutiny of the decision-making process is vital.
“Publishing meeting documents that show member states’ positions in a timely manner would help the public participate in the decision-making process and hold governments to account.
“Being more transparent would also incentivise ministers to follow advice from scientists rather than caving to industry demands.”
The Commission has just released its proposal for the majority of fishing limits for wild fish populations in the North East Atlantic for 2020, starting the negotiations between EU countries that will ultimately lead to a final agreement in December.
These negotiations are closed to the public and while it is understood that industry has easy access to decision-makers, the Council refuses to provide the public with the information they need to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process.
Friel added: “The Council should implement the ombudsman’s recommendation immediately and publish all relevant documents on fishing limits as soon as they are circulated in the Council.”
ENDS
About ClientEarth
ClientEarth is a charity that uses the power of the law to protect people and the planet. We are international lawyers finding practical solutions for the world’s biggest environmental challenges. We are fighting climate change, protecting oceans and wildlife, making forest governance stronger, greening energy, making business more responsible and pushing for government transparency. We believe the law is a tool for positive change. From our offices in London, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlin and Beijing, we work on laws throughout their lifetime, from the earliest stages to implementation. And when those laws are broken, we go to court to enforce them.