Brussels, 03/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU member states are finding it difficult to reach agreement on adjustments to the Council of Ministers' negotiating mandate for reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP), but changes to the negotiating mandate of March 2013 have to be found to make it easier to reach a deal with the European Parliament by July.
At the Coreper meeting on 2 May, some member states, like Germany, Sweden and Denmark, welcomed the changes suggested by the Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers, but many countries say that too many concessions have been granted on the ban on discards and management of fish stocks in terms of maximum sustainable yield (MSY).
Discards ban. The Presidency suggested changing what are known as the de minimis rules (the percentage of discards allowed under the rule that all species must be landed). The de minimis exemption is set at 5% (with a phase-in of 2% more in the first two years and then 1% in the next two). The Council's guidelines suggest a 9% exemption, followed by 8% and then 7%, but the EP opposes this. The revised negotiating mandate suggests a cap on discards at 9% of the total landing requirement. Several countries, including Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Romania, say the discard ban must be made do-able, some arguing that the scope of the ban should not be extended.
MSY. Several countries, including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Greece and Germany, say that the new Presidency wording is not clear enough when it comes to MSY. The Presidency suggests meeting the EP's concerns by referring to fish stock biomass.
Multi-annual plans. France, Spain and Italy argue that the new formulation of Article 10 is not legally neutral. The Presidency suggests respecting the legal opinions of the EP and Council of Ministers.
Regionalisation. Many countries back the Presidency's choice of defending the Council's position because this would make it possible to implement measures like the discards ban. Some think that no changes should be made to regional advisory councils.
Fishing capacity. A number of countries, including the UK, Spain, France and Belgium, say that the proposed measures are too prescriptive. France, Spain and Italy say that penalties should not be envisaged on everything.
Coreper will return to the issue of the revised mandate on 8 May, before handing over to European fisheries ministers, who will have to decide on the more controversial points. After that, it will be time for EP-Council negotiations to agree on a compromise. (LC/transl.fl)