On the initiative of the MEP for the New Democracy and the European People’s Party, Fredis Beleri, a letter from MEPs was sent to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Callas, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Kostas Kadis and the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to express their ever-increasing concern and indignation about the persistent cases of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing taking place in many areas of the Mediterranean.

The letter was prompted by the latest violation in the Aegean Sea, involving Turkish vessels, while in the past, they have not even hesitated to shoot at Greek fishing vessels.

In the letter, MEPs stress that the illegal actions by Turkey, Tunisia, and Morocco within the territorial waters of EU member states lead to clear violations of European and international law, such as the Fisheries Control Regulation, the Common Fisheries Policy, the sustainable management of external fishing fleets and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

MEPs from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Malta and Spain are sounding the alarm about serious degradation of marine ecosystems and depletion of key fish stocks, as well as unfair competition with significant economic losses for EU fishermen who inevitably comply with the Common Fisheries Policy, while increased tensions at sea create risks for the safety of navigation.

Monitoring, control and surveillance measuresSubsequently, Beleris and MEPs call on the Commissioners, with a view to safeguarding rights, to strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance measures.

At the same time, to launch the issuing of “yellow card” or, if necessary, “red card” warnings for countries that show a persistent lack of commitment in the fight against illegal fishing. They also call on the Commission to provide targeted support to affected Member States, including funding through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), and finally to step up diplomatic action and exert sustained political pressure in the context of the EU’s external relations to bring third countries fully in line and implement EU fisheries control rules.

They conclude by stating “the ongoing illegal fishing activities by third country fleets, in clear violation of European and international law, seriously undermine our objectives and the lives of our citizens and cannot be tolerated.”

The letter is co-signed by MEPs, Frentis Beleris, Vangelis Meimarakis, Loukas Fourlas, Michalis Hadjipandela, Carmen Crespo Diaz, Isabel Le Calenec, Marco Falcone, and Peter Aghius.