15 November 2012: In a “Question and Answers” memo on illegal fishing, the European Commission discusses its decision to warn eight third countries of the risk of being identified as non-cooperative. The Commission’s decision to warn the countries – Belize, Cambodia, Fiji, Guinea, Panama, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu – comes after an analysis of reported violations, using criteria of the EU’s Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation.The analysis prioritized the most flagrant cases, such as refusal of dialogue with the Commission, and lack of action to address established shortcomings.

The Commission noted it would give the eight countries a reasonable deadline to react and improve the situation, in the hope of solving the issues through dialogue and cooperation. If, however, a country that has been warned does not fulfill its duties under international law, potential next actions by the Commission include trade measures and denunciation or freezing of fisheries agreements. [EU Memo]