Speeches
Fisheries
Global solutions to save the world's oceans (SPEECH)
30/06/2014
Read below Commissioner Damanaki's keynote address at the Conference "re-energising the oceans", that she co-hosted today 30 June in Brussels together with the Global Ocean Commission. The event is attended by high level political representatives who chair the Global Ocean Commission such as José María Figueres, ex President of Costa Rica as well as Trevor Manuel, South African Minister in the Presidency and Head of National Planning and David Miliband.
Follow live the joint Press conference at 12:30 here.
Change in Ocean Governance: The European Experience (SPEECH)
17/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki shared her views and insight on ocean issues and ocean conservation in a speech during the "Political Change Makers" session at the "Our Ocean" International Oceans Conference in Washington. Commissioner Damanaki drew upon the reform process of the Common Fisheries Policy and its focus on sustainability, the fight against illegal fishing, the EU’s role in international fisheries governance, and the Blue Growth strategy. Other speakers at the session included US Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) speaking of their roles as co-chairs of the Senate Oceans Caucus.
Statement on warning to Philippines and Papua New Guinea over insufficient action to fight illegal fishing
10/06/2014
VIDEO - Commissioner Damanaki held a press conference today on the warnings issued to Philippines and Papua New Guinea as they are not acting sufficiently to fight illegal fishing. Find Commissioner's statement below:
"Today the European Commission sends a stern warning. We hand two big fishing nations - the Philippines and Papua New Guinea – a yellow card: our thorough analysis highlights they are not acting sufficiently to fight illegal fishing. And any illegally caught fish is of great concern to me: it undermines the livelihood of fishing communities and depletes fish stocks.
These two countries are key players of the Western Pacific region, an ocean which is home to more than half of the world's tunas. The Philippines are ranking as n° 12 in the list of world fishing nations - ahead of all EU Member States. PNG has the regions' most fishy waters.
And half of the tunas caught in the Pacific end up on our plates here in Europe. So what is happening there is our business too. Sustainability of fisheries in the Pacific Ocean means sustainability here.
To ensure sustainability we need everybody to cooperate: from flag States to market States, from producers to importers, from inspectors to consumers.
Now, we have been talking to the Philippines and Papua New Guinea extensively for more than two years. We are convinced that these two countries exercise no real control on what goes on in their waters and on their ships. So that they cannot guarantee that their fish is caught respecting local and international rules.
And this is why the Commission steps forward today and shows them a yellow card. But this "warning" is not the end of the road. To the contrary, it means we will intensify and formalise our dialogue with both countries in the coming months. How do we do this ? We propose to each of them a tailored "action plan" to help them overcome their shortcomings.
We have used this method for eight other countries since 2012 and it is bearing fruit. We started our investigations "close by" so to say, in West Africa, where resources were being pillaged by pirate vessels and the livelihood of local fishing communities was at stake.
Today most of the nations which we warned are making progress. The nations who did not – Guinea, Belize, Cambodia – were banned from trading fish into the EU in March of this year. I urge the Philippines and Papua New Guinea to take action so that this second step will not be necessary.
Because, let me make one thing clear: the Commission's ultimate goal is not listing countries and impose trade bans. It is to use all the means we have to achieve sustainability in our EU waters – through our Common Fisheries Policy reform and our enforcement of control rules. Why? Because we import two thirds of the fish we eat in the EU.
I hope other nations will join us in tackling this plague of illegal fishing. "
Read more information here as well as Questions and Answers and find further information on the website on the EU rules to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Maritime affairs
Raw Materials High Level Conference:The importance of the extractive industry to EU growth
20/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki addressed the Raw Materials High Level Conference in Athens organised by the Greek Presidency of the Council and the European Commission. The focus of the conference, 'Maximising value: The importance of the extractive industry to growth in the EU economy and its regions', dealt with how mineral extraction and wealth creation can develop simultaneously for the benefit of EU regions and how raw materials are crucial to downstream industry in Europe. Keynote speakers included Greek Minister of Energy, Environment and Climate Change Dr Yiannis Maniatis and Vice President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Mr Hans-Joachim Wilms.
Commissioner Damanaki raised the issue of the growing demand for raw materials and how seabed mining and underwater technology can help ensure security of supply for Europe. At the same time she emphasised that it is crucial that we push for growth that is sustainable as it is our shared responsibility. Read her full speech below.
Speech at the working dinner of the ELIAMEP Conference on Maritime Challenges in Athens
06/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki delivered a speech during the working dinner of the participants of the Conference on Maritime challenges organised in Athens by ELIAMEP, the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy and under the Greek presidency of the European Council. Read Commissioner's speech below.
Closing remarks at DISPA biannual meeting: "Resilience as a challenge for the Public Sector: The Institutes' and Schools' Contribution"
06/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki attended the bi-annual meeting of the Directors of Institutes & Schools of Public Administration of EU Member States in Athens. This year's session focused on "Resilience as a challenge for the Public Sector: The Institutes' and Schools' Contribution". Commissioner Damanaki delivered closing remarks on the European example. Read her fullspeech below.
