Background Statement
The European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD) is uniquely placed in Brussels and on European Union advisory committees to source information regarding European Union policy positions. To DFO knowledge, this exclusive service is not offered by any other domestic or international organizations and has been the product of negotiations between department officials and the EBCD.
Increasing Canada’s knowledge of European market and border measures is vital in order to ensure Canada’s exporters to the European market can continue meet the requirements placed upon them by European buyers.
Objectives to be attained
Better understanding of the European Union as an institution and obtain exclusive and specialized policy analysis.
Description of Scope of Work and Existing Resource Material
The European Bureau for Conservation and Development will provide to Fisheries and Oceans Canada the following services:
European Press Review: daily media reports on relevant issues and topics, including an Aquaculture and Fisheries news report.
Weekly Reports and Briefings (in electronic format) on the European Parliament news on fisheries and marine issues and the other European Union Institutions as they relate to fisheries and ocean ecosystems issues.
Providing information on upcoming Parliament Plenary sessions of the Fisheries Committee and following the scheduled meetings, provide a debrief of the highlights/ main issues discussed by the members of the Committee.
European Parliament Committee and Council Updates from:
Committees:Fisheries (once a month when EU Parliament is in session)
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (as matters relevant to DFO arise)
Development (as matters relevant to DFO arise), and,
Councils: The Agriculture and Fisheries Council (meets approximately once a month but does not always includes fisheries issues).
Regular briefings on relevant developments within the European Union regarding CITES, the CBD, the FAO, the United Nations related to fisheries and oceans discussions. Developments in the IUCN regarding marine issues.
Reports on legislative developments on major reforms introduced by the European Commission, such as upcoming votes, results of votes in the European Parliament on major initiatives, latest changes to legislative proposals, results of internal negotiations (trialogues) between the various European players, etc.
