01/03/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 1 March, the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries kicked off negotiations with the Council of the EU on the management plan for bluefin tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean with 22 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions. The European Parliament adopted its position (on first reading) on this bluefin tuna management plan at the end of April 2021 (see EUROPE 13113/14). The Council of the EU had rejected the agreement reached with the European Parliament in trilogue. The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries therefore decided to reopen negotiations with the Council on this dossier with a view to reaching an agreement upon second reading. Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) is rapporteur on this bluefin tuna management plan. “There is a legal gap to be filled”, she noted. (LC)