Press Release: Fisheries: Simplification of fisheries rule is a success – and must continue!

The Commission presented to Council its Communication on the implementation of the 2006-08 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) on 23 June, 2009. This report summarised the progress made during this period, and outlined how the Commission intends to continue working towards better and simpler fisheries legislation in future. The results achieved so far are encouraging: all the initiatives laid down in the 2006-08 Action Plan were completed. Fisheries legislation has become clearer, and its implementation costs both for administrations and for operators have been reduced. The report also highlighted the use of impact assessments as a valuable tool for fine-tuning new legislation in advance.