On Wednesday 24 February, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) agreed to adopt in the near future, by written procedure (ending Friday 26 February), the decision authorising the European Commission to negotiate a new bilateral fisheries agreement with Norway (see EUROPE 12647/8).
In light of the considerable impact that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU is expected to have on the shared management of stocks in the North-East Atlantic, Norway is seeking to replace the current fisheries agreement. There will be a separate trilateral agreement on fish stocks in waters under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, Norway and the Union.
A new bilateral agreement will be required for stocks in waters under the exclusive jurisdiction of Norway and the Union. Coreper has become aware of a verbal note to Norway concerning Norwegian legislation that prevents EU vessels from fishing for snow crab, particularly in Svalbard.
The decision can be found at: https://bit.ly/37Jp9bY (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)