Constitutional Bases to the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union

Abstract

The European Union possesses constitutional characteristics that have permitted a unique approach to the organization and exercise of public authority in matters of marine fisheries regulation. The resulting system, known as the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), is underpinned by the international law of the sea and other multilateral legal frameworks, yet also contains significant special features. Through extensive legislation and successive reforms the CFP has evolved into a complex body of principles, rules and institutions, growing in ambition and sophistication with each iteration. Yet, its success is not only dependent on its capacity for evolution, but also on the stability of its constitutional foundations, and the extent to which it can coherently support the plurality of idiosyncrasies and interests that characterize the Member States and their diverse fishing interests and cultures.