During the second half of 2018, the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU is expected to conduct negotiations between ministers on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2019, and it hopes to take work forward plans for the recovery of stocks of certain fish species.
During the Fisheries Council on 15 and 16 October, the ministers will seek to reach a political agreement on TACs and quotas in the Baltic Sea (see EUROPE 12038).
During the Council on 19 and 20 November, a political agreement is expected on fishing possibilities in 2019 and 2020, with regards deep-sea species.
The traditional fisheries “marathon” at the end of the year will be held on 17 and 18 December to determine TACs and quotas for 2019 in the English Channel, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (ministers will also agree on catches in the Black Sea for next year).
Stock recovery plans. The Austrian Presidency will “continue to work, among other things, on the proposal on the Western Mediterranean Sea and the proposal on Western Waters” (see EUROPE 12002), reads the programme of the Austrian Presidency, to be presented to members of the EU committee on fisheries on Wednesday 11 July. Austria also plans to “attempt to advance discussions” on the proposed amendment of the official controls regulation and the proposal for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12039).
The Austrian programme also cites the task of preparing negotiations on the renewal of certain fisheries agreements (Cape Verde and Madagascar). In October, the ministers will discuss annual EU/Norway negotiations on fishing possibilities for 2019. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)