Governance

Most of the CFP’s problems stem from governance failures. The CFP has long suffered from political haggling, with measures of great intricacy being dealt with at the highest political level. As a result, national ministers have traditionally entangled themselves in debates about issues such as the size of nets and annual quotas.

Now, following the Lisbon Treaty, the political process also includes the European Parliament in most decisions related to fisheries management. More politicians are, in short, debating issues that do not require political leadership, which in turn leads to protracted political discussions when it is urgent decisions that are needed to rectify technical problems.

The future CFP must give the Council and the Parliament the task to decide on the overarching principles and long-term objectives of the policy whilst the detailed implementation should be left to the Commission or decentralised management bodies.