On Tuesday 15 December, EU Fisheries Ministers had a first exchange of views on the decisions to be taken the following day on the 2021 total allowable catches (TACs) in Atlantic and Mediterranean waters.
Discussions focused on stocks shared with the United Kingdom and Norway, for which the European Commission proposes to renew 25% of the current (2020) quota volumes for these species for the first three months of 2021.
The UK’s response to the idea was still pending on Tuesday.
Some ministers, including those of Spain, France and Belgium, have reportedly called for a slightly longer extension (from 4 to 6 months) of the current TACs to give more certainty to fishermen.
On fisheries in the Mediterranean, the Commission has defended a 15% reduction in fishing effort in 2021, while Spain and France consider these restrictions too severe.
After trilateral meetings (German EU Council Presidency, Member State and Commission) on Tuesday, a compromise text was due to be presented on Wednesday 16 December.
Covid-19. Croatia, supported by several other delegations, called for a six-month extension in 2021 of the measures (compensation for fish farmers and processors, aid for temporary cessation) taken in response to Covid-19, under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)