Brussels, 11/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers, who are to meet in Council on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 May chaired by Mette Gjerskov, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark, will discuss the greening of certain aid under the common agricultural policy (CAP), the environmental aspects of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and the European Maritime and Fishery Fund (EMFF) for 2014-2020. A first press conference devoted to fisheries will be held during the afternoon of the first day. A second press conference on agricultural issues will be organised after the second day's meeting, before lunch.
As regards CFP reform, the Council will hold two public debates. The first will be on environmental sustainability through maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the integration of environmental law requirements, this being one of the issues raised in the proposal for a regulation on CFP. The second debate will explore further the proposal for a regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which is to replace the existing European Fisheries Fund (EFF) for the period 2007-2013. The Danish Presidency hopes, in June, to reach a partial guideline on CFP reform, which will prove no easy task.
Regarding the environmental dimension of the CFP, all member states say they are keen on the principle of managing fish stocks according to MSY, but are divided over how to achieve this. Some countries, such as France, Spain and Ireland, wish to achieve MSY from 2015 for all stocks whenever possible, and by 2020 at the latest. A fair number of European ministers are expected to point out the difficulties of achieving MSY in the case of mixed fisheries (i.e. net catches of different species at the same time). Several countries take the view that, in order to establish MSY, it is necessary to take fish mortality as a basis, saying that the rate of fish mortality and the MSY target must appear in the multiannual plans of certain fish stocks. Some countries - i.e.: France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal - acknowledge the importance of the CFP's environmental dimension but consider that this must not lead to the CFP's social and economic dimension being put on the backburner. The Danish, Swedish and British are highly in favour of there being a reference in the CFP to the framework directive on marine strategy and want the good ecological state of water to be taken as a basis. Other countries feel, on the other hand, that there must be no shared areas of responsibility (the framework directive must be implemented by the states whereas, in the CFP, the EU has sole responsibility). Several countries have called for a common EU approach on the management of fishing activities in special conservation areas, such as Natural 2000 areas.
EMFF discussions are expected to focus on the budget proposed for 2014-2020 and on maintaining assistance for adjustment of fishing fleet capacity and modernisation of vessels (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Poland and the Baltic states are calling for this aid to be maintained). In addition, France, Spain and Portugal will call for an increase in the amount of aid for the outermost regions.
At the request of the Polish delegation, the Council will discuss the issue of the cessation of activities for the EU vessels which fish in the waters off Mauritania. Vessels from six member states (Poland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, the United Kingdom and Germany) have been severely affected by the decision to close the pelagic fishery in Mauritanian waters from 24 April 2012. The decision was taken by the Commission as the annual EU quota for this zone had almost been exhausted. The closure affects freezer trawlers which operate under the fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and Mauritania and fish mainly for pelagic species, such as sardine, sardinella and mackerel. The agreement allows vessels from 13 EU member states to fish in Mauritanian waters.
Ministers will hold a preliminary debate on the greening of CAP aid. Most delegations feel that the Commission proposals are too complicated. On the initiative of Germany, some ten states in the Stockholm Group have put forward new ides so that progress can be made on greening (see EUROPE 10607). The Swedish delegation will brief the Council on the enforcement of the general requirement to stun animals before slaughter. According to directive 93/119/EC, animals should be stunned before slaughter. However, in the case of animals subject to particular methods of slaughter required by certain religious rites this requirement does not apply. Recently, the Commission recognised that there is an excessive use of unstunned slaughter in some member states. Sweden notes that no provision has been made in the legislation for abuse of this practice. It wants, therefore, to encourage other member states to take appropriate action to avoid misuse of religious exemptions to stunning. (LC/transl.jl/rt)