European agriculture and fisheries ministers will meet in Brussels on Thursday 11 May essentially to agree a general approach on the text on fisheries technical measures. Under the chairmanship of Roderick Galdes, Maltese Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Minister, the Council will also discuss, among other points on the agenda, the challenges facing fishing in the Mediterranean and measures to tackle African swine fever in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.
The Council is expected to reach a general approach on the proposal on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures (see EUROPE 11775).
On 26 April, the committee of permanent representatives gave its backing to the final compromise put by the Maltese Presidency and agreed to put it to the Council as a basis for adoption of a general approach. Some delegations made the point that the text could yet be improved, with the inclusion of a few technical adjustments. Two delegations – those of Denmark and the Netherlands – indicated that they could not support the compromise text. Once the Council has agreed its negotiating position and the European Parliament has done likewise, inter-institutional negotiations (in trialogue) will begin (the text of the Presidency compromise may be found at: http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8151-2017-INIT/en/pdf ).
MedFish4Ever declaration. The Commission and the Maltese Presidency will inform the Council about the ministerial conference on Mediterranean fisheries (see EUROPE 11753) that took place in Malta on 29 and 30 March, and about the joint declaration on the future of Mediterranean fisheries (MedFish4Ever declaration) that was adopted.
United Nations Ocean Conference. The Swedish delegation will brief ministers on the upcoming high-level United Nations conference in New York on 5-9 June to support implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development"” (Ocean Conference). The conference will be co-hosted by Sweden and Fiji.
African swine fever in third countries. On the initiative of the Polish delegation, the Council will be updated on and discuss the issue of the eradication of African swine fever, in particular in relation to the role of EU neighbouring countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)