Brussels, 15/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - Luxembourg is obviously very far from the sea but it has planned a number of important “fisheries” dossiers during its Council of the EU Presidency six monthly term. These dossiers include: relaunching negotiations on the multiannual management plan for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea; continuing the examination of the deep-water fisheries proposal and discussions regarding drift nets.
Addressing the European Parliament' Fisheries Committee on Wednesday15 July, the Luxembourg Minister for Agriculture, Fernand Etgen, underlined his country's priorities in the fishing domain: organising a thoroughgoing discussion about scientific data on fish stocks so that sensible and transparent decisions can be taken in this field; attempting to reach an agreement on deep-water fishing, by guaranteeing sustainable fishing of fish stock; pushing forward negotiations on the multiannual management plan for the Baltic Sea; continuing with the alignment of several existing regulations in the Lisbon Treaty and paying particular attention to illegal and non-regulated fishing and the reconstitution of European eel stocks.
One of the dossiers the Minister mentioned included the proposal to ban drift nets. In the section on external matters, negotiations will take place in an effort to reach agreements between the EU/Tanzania and the EU/Gabon.
Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spain) asked the Minister about deep-water fishing and drift nets. Ulrike Rodust (S&D, Germany) referred to the Baltic Sea management plan and data gathering (barely 10% of data collected is used). António Marinho e Pinto (ALDE, Portugal) said that they needed to provide flexibility to small fishing boats with regard to certain rules, such as the ban on trawl nets.
In reply to these questions, Etgen pointed out that with regard to the multiannual Baltic Sea management plan, inter-institutional trialogue negotiations had reached a dead end, “which is very regrettable” (see EUROPE 11343). The Luxembourg Presidency would like to continue the work begun in close collaboration with the EP and in full respect of the principles of common fisheries policy. The Minister, however, defended the Council's position, which is, “included in the Commission's proposal” on the framing and setting out of total allowable catches by way of a range of fisheries values compatible with the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). These values were provided by scientists from the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea). The Minister said that he hoped that the institutions would be able to end the deadlock in this situation.
Deep-water Fishing. The Presidency is hoping that the work undertaken on this dossier will, “enable negotiations with the EP to begin”, explained Etgen. A draft compromise was put on the table and discussed at the Council working group. This seeks to simplify provisions and does not include a blanket ban on trawler and drift nets but just a ban on fishing that is deeper than 800 m. The national delegations have been requested to give their positions on this text, so that a mandate for negotiating with the EP can be prepared.
Drift Nets. During the Council workgroup, the Commission proposal was met with strong opposition from the delegations. The Presidency is expecting results from the EP's first reading, “so that they can consider what follow-up should be pursued in this dossier”. The Presidency is prepared to work on a modified proposal that contains a more selective ban (which was not included in the initial proposal) accompanied by technical and control measures. (Lionel Changeur)