The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU indicated on Wednesday 23 January, when presenting the priorities for the six-month period, that it wanted "a rapid agreement" on the multiannual plan for the management of demersal stocks in the Mediterranean (see EUROPE 12175).
The first trilogue on this management plan will take place on 4 February and the objective is to conclude a European Parliament/Council political agreement before the European elections in May.
Petre Daea, the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, presented to MEPs of the Parliament Fisheries Committee the important issues to be addressed during the semester in the field of fisheries and maritime affairs.
He first welcomed the interinstitutional agreement reached on Tuesday on the programme for the recovery of the swordfish stock in the Mediterranean (see EUROPE 12143). The Romanian minister also hopes to lead European ministers to a partial general orientation (without indicating the amount of the total budget) on the European Fund for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (EFAMP) 2021-2027.
Petre Daea also wants progress on the complex issue of updating the rules for controlling fishing activities.
Technical measures. The Romanian Presidency hopes that progress can be made on technical measures, a dossier that includes the sensitive subject of electric fishing (see EUROPE 12111). But it acknowledged the need for a period of reflection to examine compromise texts at the technical level, "with a view, I hope, to a positive conclusion”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)