Croatia In EU Negotiations: Do Not Reduce Bluefin Quotaff

Source: Pioneer Investors

Both the Croatian government and the National Committee have accepted the negotiating standpoint for Chapter 13 of the EU acquis, referring to fisheries, and Croatian negotiating standpoints should soon be sent to Brussels. After a long delay, negotiations on fisheries are to be opened without criteria. European diplomats believe that Croatia is well prepared and ready to start negotiations.

Zagreb is entering the negotiations on fisheries with 9 demands for transition periods and exemptions and Croatian negotiators strongly believe that their demands are “well balanced”. The demands include, for example, enabling Croatian fishermen, after accession, to continue using traditional fishing methods which are not mentioned in the EU acquis.

Permits are no long Croatia is asking that the year of reference for determining the size of its fishing fleet, which should not be enlarged once Croatia joins the EU, be determined after Croatia’s accession to the EU issued, even in Croatia, but a number of Croatian fishermen still use them, and, thus, this category should be protected in negotiations. Another Croatian characteristic is the possibility of “small-scale fishing”, not intended for sale. This fishing is for personal use only, a category unknown in the acquis. Croatia is, therefore, asking for a 5-year transition period for this category. Croatia is also requesting a transition period until 2015 for alignment with the minimal quantity for hake fishing.

Also, Croatia is asking that the year of reference for determining the size of its fishing fleet, which may not be enlarged after joining, be determined after accession. Negotiators will fight for the possibility of using double standards, according to which fish intended for the local market may be sold according to Croatian standards, whereas fish intended for the EU market will be sold according to European standards. Finally, Croatia is asking for the tuna quota, which should be reduced to 745 tons by 2010, to remain the same.

In terms of fishing in territorial waters, in EU agreements this is treated as the area meant exclusively for fishing by the country’s fishing fleet, and are valid until 2012, when they might be changed, even though everything points to no changes will be made. “This means that our territorial waters will only be used by our fishermen. Furthermore, this also points to the fact that it is of utmost importance for Croatia to become a full member of the EU quickly, since it is only then that it will be able to influence EU policies on fisheries,” concludes our diplomatic source.