The European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said on Monday 20 January in Brussels that the EU wants to reach an agreement with the UK on fisheries relations by July this year.
Speaking to MEPs on the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries, the Commissioner stressed that the fisheries negotiations will take place in the context of the overall negotiations on an EU/UK economic partnership. However, given the ambitious timetable for fisheries, “we are ready to start negotiations with the United Kingdom as soon as possible”, he said. The negotiations will be coordinated by Michel Barnier's working party and Parliament will be informed very regularly, assured Mr Sinkevičius.
Replying in particular to a question by Clara Eugenia Aguilera García (S&D, Spain) on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Commissioner said that it was more appropriate to speak of a “review” of the CFP in mid-2022. The extent to which the CFP addresses related challenges, such as climate change, will need to be assessed. It will also be necessary to assess other activities that affect fish stocks (agriculture, industry). The Commission, after having listened to the other institutions and stakeholders, will make possible suggestions on the CFP, stressed Mr Sinkevičius. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)