Fisheries and aquaculture do not lend themselves to a purely free-trade approach, believe MEPs. Reasonable, adjustable tariff protection should remain a tool to regulate imports, while products from third countries should meet the same standards as European-produced fish.

European production falls well short of EU demand: already 60% is met by imports, acknowledges the resolution on the future EU fisheries import policy, drafted by Alain Cadec. However, MEPs strongly insist that the future EU import arrangements must not affect the overall goal of the upcoming fisheries reform: to preserve viable fishery and aquaculture sectors.

Strict environmental and social standards
MEPs insist that imports meet the same standards as EU production in every respect: environmental, labour, health and quality. Agreements granting trade preferences should include credible mechanisms for monitoring whether environmental and social commitments are met and allow for preferences to be suspended or withdrawn in the event of non-compliance.

Better informed consumers would make different choices
A massive influx of imports could influence the eating habits of European consumers; however, customers would often make different choices if they were better informed about the true nature of products on sale (their origin and production or catch conditions). MEPs therefore demand stringent and transparent criteria for quality, traceability and labelling.