The Committee of Member States' Representatives to the EU (Coreper) approved on Friday 22 February the compromise text between institutions on fisheries technical measures, which puts an end to electric trawling as of 1 July 2021 (see EUROPE 12194).
The Netherlands has indicated that it will vote against the revised regulation on technical measures because of the provisions aimed at withdrawing licences for electric trawl fishing. Germany has reportedly indicated that it will abstain from voting on the Regulation.
From now until July 1, 2021, a transitional period is planned to allow fishers time to adjust to the new rules, but no new licences will be issued for electric trawl fishing. Arrangements have been made to allow Member States that so wish to immediately prohibit or restrict this practice in their territorial waters.
The compromise text on technical measures will be subject to legal and linguistic revision. Parliament and the Council will still have to formally adopt the Regulation.
The new rules will apply the day after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, around mid-2019. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)