EU maritime policy features among the six political priorities of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The six-month work programme of the Maltese Presidency also contains initiatives on “blue growth” and international ocean governance (see EUROPE 11665). The initiative specifically for the Western Mediterranean sea basin is expected to be launched early in 2017, the Presidency says (see EUROPE 11541).
The provisional agenda for Council meetings under Maltese presidency contains very few issues related to the common fisheries policy (CFP). The European Commission could, then, present a proposal at the Council meeting on 6 March for a multiannual management plan for small pelagic species (anchovy and sardine) in the Adriatic Sea. This proposal, which would affect, in particular, the Italian and Croatian fleets, would seek to achieve maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for these species by 2020 at the latest (see EUROPE 11574).
At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 12-13 June, the Commission will present a communication on 2018 fishing opportunities which will provide an insight into the strategy being followed ahead of the presentation in the autumn of the proposal on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for next year. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)