Brussels, 30/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU and European Parliament negotiators reached a political agreement on Wednesday 29 June on the up-dating of the long-term plan for cod stocks in the North Sea.
After four years of discussions, the institutions have at last reached a compromise on the revision of the 2008 regulation on the cod management plan. The former plan contained a complicated fishing effort system (days at sea) which failed to improve stocks. The changes that have been made mean that the landing obligation (ending discards) can be taken into account and grant more flexibility in setting total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas. A press release states that the text simplifies the rules on the setting of TACs. The co-legislators await presentation by the Commission of a new multiannual plan for the management of the stocks of several species, including cod, in the North Sea which is expected to contain a chapter on specific targets on stock conservation and safeguards in case of risk to the resource. As regards the landing obligation, the Council and European Parliament underlined the importance of maintaining selectivity and discard reduction measures that were developed under the 2008 cod plan. Maintaining or further developing these measures should facilitate the phasing-in of the landing obligation in demersal fisheries (which include cod) which started in 2016.
The initial proposal for revision of the cod plan was made in September 2012. On 19 December 2012, the Council decided to divide the proposal into two parts, causing a legal dispute with the Parliament. Parliament adopted its position in June 2013 and, on 1 December 2015, the Court of Justice of the EU annulled the Council regulation while maintaining its effects until a new regulation taking as its basis Article 43(2), which stipulates the co-decision (Parliament and Council) procedure, came into force by 31 December 2016 at the latest. On 22 June 2016, the committee of permanent representatives (Coreper) gave a revised mandate to the Dutch Presidency to enter into negotiations with the European Parliament.
Next steps. Coreper will be invited to endorse the agreement and the European Parliament fisheries committee is expected to put it to the vote, probably in mid-July. Then the Council will adopt its position at first reading reflecting the political agreement and Parliament will adopt the regulation at second reading in the autumn. The new regulation will come into force on 1 January 2017. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)