Introduction:The European fishing industry is at the crossroads. The previous reform of the CFPdid not achieve its key objectives. A thorough reform of European fishing practices isessential if we wish to lay the foundations of an environmentally sustainable andsocio-economically viable European fishing industry.Respect for resources and the environment, sufficient supply of quality fisheries andaquaculture products, prosperity of coastal regions and fishing sector enterprises allalong the production chain, making the sector more attractive by improving workingconditions are the key points which the Commission's reform package addresses, withthe overarching ambition of ensuring the sustainability of the European fishingindustry. But this aim should not being removed from the socio-economic context inwhich it is set: with 23 million people unemployed in the European Union, thefisheries and aquaculture sectors must be seen as important direct and indirect sourcesof jobs in our maritime regions.At this stage it is up to European Parliament - with the help of National Parliaments -to put these priorities in order, and to play its full part as co-legislator, by defining apolitical framework covering the various issues set out in the Commission’slegislative proposals. These three proposals will be the main focus of thisinterparliamentary committee meeting, during which National Parliaments areexpected to deliver their opinion and to feed the debate which will lead later to thedraft reports of the EP committee on fisheries.

Panel 1 : Basic RegulationRapporteur :Ulrike RODUST(S&D, Germany)This is the "masterpiece" of the Reform, which covers a broad part of the objectivesof the CFP, and includes sustainability initiatives, socio-economic measures to ensurethe future of fisheries and aquaculture sectors, majors changes in the CFP governance,and new dimensions of the external policy.More precisely, the main issues to be discussed within this panel are:

Panel 2 : Common Organisation of the MarketRapporteur: Struan STEVENSON(ECR, UK)The CMO is the first component of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and has beenin place since 1970. The proposed reform of the CFP provides the EU legislator andstakeholders with an opportunity to take stock and improve existing CMO instruments- including the role of Producer Organisations - and to analyse recent marketdevelopments.This second panel should lead to debates on:Creation and role of of POs

(aquaculture

POs, associations of POs, inter-branch organisations)Improvement of market intelligenceSingle storage mechanism as systems of market interventionPOs, transnational

The current proposal for the Regulation onEuropean Maritime and Fisheries Fund(EMFF) aims at achieving the objectives of the reformed CFP and of IntegratedMartime Policy. The EMFF proposal provides that a significant part of the EU budgetshould continue to be dedicated to fisheries and maritime policies. The EMFF budgetamounts, in current prices to € 6 567 million. The proposal entitles to finance all thecurrent policies (inc. conservation and research, etc.) at the exeption of the financingof SFAs and the complusory contribution to RFMOs.In line with the two previous panels, the discussions on EMFF should focus on thefollowing points:thepromotion of sustainable and competitive fisheries and aquaculture;fostering the development and implementation of theUnion's IntegratedMaritime Policy, in a complementary manner tocohesion policy and toCFP;promotion ofbalanced and inclusive territorial development of fisheriesareas(includingaquaculture and inland fishing);contribution to theimplementation of the CFP.