Brussels, 25/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU fisheries ministers are to meet in Brussels on Monday 28 January to seek to finalise their stance on reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP), before beginning talks with the European Parliament.
The aim of this discussion, the Irish Presidency says, is to prepare a political stance to be taken by the Council on subjects left pending within the general guidelines of 12 June 2012 on the basic CFP regulation. Such subjects pertain to: - the timetable for maximum sustainable yield (MSY); - the way CFP articulates with the environment; - the arrangements for banning discards and the management of by-catches - the Spanish and Polish idea of establishing European quotas for by-catches being challenged by France, the United Kingdom and Germany; - criteria for breaking down the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020 (the new countries of the EU call for the historical allocation criterion of the current fisheries fund 2007-2013 to be taken into account to include cohesion criteria, while net contributor countries - Germany, United Kingdom, France, et al. - say that account should be taken of the level of use of funding 2007-2013); - and long term recovery plans.
The Council will therefore seek to reach an agreement by February on matters that remain outstanding, before beginning trialogue discussions with the European Parliament. All the ministers agree with the aim of reaching a political agreement on the CFP package by June.
Discards. The position of the EP on discards is different to that of the Council. The EP hopes that the ban on discards will cover all species and not only those subject to TACs and quotas. The Council is keen to have a ban on discards applied to species under TAC and quotas and to fish under minimum landing size in the Mediterranean. Some countries also call for quotas to be increased in order to take account of this cessation of discards.
Multiannual plans. During lunch, ministers will discuss the theme that divides the Council and EP regarding the legal base. The EP considers that co-decision applies, while the Council considers that Article 43.3 also applies, as plans also concern the fixing and the sharing out of fishing possibilities.
Technical and control measures in Skagerrak. The Council will hold a policy debate on a proposal aimed at implementing a discard ban in that zone (this measure was negotiated with Norway). The Commission suggests that on-board cameras should become general practice on fishing vessels, but this is challenged by some EU countries.
EU-Norway. Ministers are expected to welcome the good agreement reached by the Commission to safeguard the EU's historic share for mackerel (90%). Some countries, such as France, will feel that the agreement is a first step forward towards the rebalancing of the EU countries' internal contributions to the balance of this agreement. Furthermore, fishing ministers, such as those from Spain, France and Portugal, will call for firm and effective sanctions against Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which they reproach for not having committed themselves in good faith to concerted management of mackerel stocks. (LC/transl.jl)