Brussels, 10/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 December, the coordinators of the political groups on the committee for fisheries at the EP decided by a majority to extend the deadline for objections to the Delegated Regulation establishing a discard plan.
The Council of the EU approved this text on 26 November (see EUROPE 11439). The EPP, ALDE, EFDD and Greens/EFA were in favour of the extended deadline, whilst the S&D and ECR were against as they claimed it deprives fishermen of legal security and certainty. Implementation of the landing obligation measures (resulting from an end being imposed on the discharge at sea system) is expected to begin on 1 January 2016 for certain demersal fisheries in the North Sea. The Delegated Regulation was published on 22 October 2015. Parliament has two months to object or to ask for an extension of the deadline by another two months. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)