Brussels, 19/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - At their meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 22 May, EU fisheries ministers are to discuss follow-up to talks on reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP).
The Council and the European Parliament (EP) have adopted their positions and talks are now taking place within the trilogues (see EUROPE 10825). Although all countries are very committed to the process, it is likely that many ministers will appear doubtful about the chances of concluding reform in the time specified by the Irish Presidency of the EU Council. The latter hopes to gain the ministers' go-ahead on Monday to draft a revised mandate (after the general approach finalised on 26 February this year). The revised mandate would be discussed on 26 April during a meeting of Council experts (“fisheries group”), then presented to Coreper (committee of permanent representatives of EU member states with the EU) on 2 May. The Presidency then hopes to conclude a compromise with the EP by the next Fisheries Council on 13 and 14 May - which means there is very little time. The Presidency hopes to devote the June Council to reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
As positions are highly divided at this stage between the Council and Parliament over key issues, such as the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the arrangements for banning discards, the Presidency would like to revise the mandate in order to facilitate an agreement with the EP. Several countries are said to be willing to make concessions on a number of subjects but do not want the timetable to take pride of place over substance.
On banning discards, the EP hopes to extend a discard prohibition to all species, with as little derogation as possible. The Council has said that the obligation to land should be solely for those species under total allowable catches (TAC) and quotas, and the species subject to the minimum size regulation at the time of landing. The Council is less strict than the EP on the dates for implementation depending on the zones and on the species caught. It provides for a de minimis exemption (this is an acceptable level of discards: 9% of catches/day at sea in 2014 and 2015, 8% in 2016 and 2017, and 7% as of 2018), while the EP does not want the derogation. The Council calls for a two-year transitional period, but the EP does not.
Another problem is that the work on the European fund for maritime affairs and fisheries (FEAMP), namely fisheries aid for the period 2014-2020, is being delayed. Many countries have linked this to reform, as the ban on discards, for example, should be accompanied by measures to help fishermen adjust to the new rules. The EP fisheries committee will vote on the issue on 10 July, and the text will go before plenary in October or November 2013 under Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council.
The EP and Council have made considerable progress on the common market organisation for fisheries products. There is agreement on everything except two points - the labelling standards of fisheries products and the use of delegated acts.
Furthermore, the Commission will present its action plan to address accidental catches of marine birds caught up in fishing gear. At the behest of Spain, the Commission will take stock of EU-Morocco fisheries agreements (currently being negotiated) and EU-Mauritania agreements (the EP's opinion is due and Spain is calling for amendments to the agreement). (LC/transl.jl)