Luxembourg, 17/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 June, EU fisheries ministers made progress in their preparations to establish a Council position on the proposed regulation on the landing obligation (“omnibus” regulation).
The Council's position on this text is nearly ready. The next stage will be to give the Presidency a mandate to negotiate with the European Parliament. An agreement between the institutions is hoped for by the end of 2014, as the ban on discards (or landing obligation), provided for by the new CFP (common fisheries policy), will apply to certain species from 1 January 2015 (pelagic species, industrial fisheries, salmon and fish in the Baltic).
The Greek Presidency has proposed limiting the revision to the absolute minimum, given the urgency of the matter. The compromise text was largely accepted by Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU) last Wednesday.
During the table round, the Netherlands opposed the rule which has been added to the compromise text, providing for 10% flexibility over the minimum landing size for pelagic species of the north-east Atlantic (herring, mackerel, horse mackerel). The country argues that this rule goes against the basic regulation on the new CFP.
The European Commission, represented by Commissioner for Health Tonio Borg, stated that the compromise text “preserves the main elements of the proposal”, but opposes the derogation on the minimum size for pelagics to be sold. Germany also took position against this “de minimis super rule”, in which it was joined by Sweden and the United Kingdom. However, these countries do not make up a blocking minority.
Latvia spoke of complicated rules in relation to the ending of discards, increasing the administrative burden on national administrations and on fishermen.
Spain expressed concern at the request made by certain countries, such as Germany and Sweden, to get rid of minimum landing sizes for the industrial fleet targeting pelagics. “Getting rid of minimum sizes could have a serious impact on juveniles”, said the Spanish minister, going on to voice concern about juveniles being sold. Spain also opposes the inclusion of the “swordfish box” in the regulation.
France asked the Presidency to “keep its text, which seems well balanced”. On the 10% flexibility, the French representative explained that the text provides for this 10% margin (which already exists and which provides flexibility in the assessment of the minimum size, not a derogation to the landing obligation) to be kept. Portugal supported the compromise and the 10% leeway for small pelagics.
Ireland called for technical measures to be included as part of the regional discards plans, particularly on avoiding captures of juveniles. Poland referred to the problem of increasing discards of cod in the Baltic Sea and called for a rapid reaction system. (LC)