Brussels, 15/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Fisheries Ministers, which will begin on Monday from 11am, will dedicate a significant share of its works to the debate over the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as well as the compensation in favour of Spanish and Portuguese fishermen and ship owners, due to the failure of the negotiations with Morocco.
The Ministers will have a policy debate on the Green Paper dedicated to the reform of the CFP. To simplify the unfolding of the works, the Swedish Presidency drafted a certain number of questions centred on the aspects that do not gain a general support from the delegations. In the light of the discussions, lead at working group level in the Council, one can expect that the Member States reply by defending their traditional interests: (1) conservation policy: a majority of countries, with the exception of Spain, agree with the principal of not questioning the restrictions on access to waters and resources, namely to 6 and 12 mile zone, the Shetland Box and access to the North Sea. Spain is also opposed to the inclusion in the duration of the "relative stability" principal; (2) environmental dimension: certain countries such as Spain, France or Portugal, feel that it is necessary to strengthen the legal basis as wanted by the Commission; (3) fleet policy: Denmark, the United Kingdom, German (to renew the fleet) are opposed to the granting of state aids, contrary to Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland, France and Germany (for the policies such as fish farming); (4) monitoring, control and implementation: France, Spain and Portugal want the Commission to contribute towards the financing of control under the responsibility of the Member States, while certain countries such as Germany and the Netherlands want for this aspect to be financed at the national level; (5) external relations: Spain and Portugal will demand for a transfer of quotas to be possible in the framework of certain agreement (North) (which are based on a simple reciprocity in access to resources), including Greenland, which is the notorious exception to this principal as it receives financial compensation as is the case for the Southern countries. Spain, followed by France and Portugal would also like to extend to the "northern" agreements, what applies to the south, namely the payment to third countries, by ship owners, of sums for the issuing of licences and for each tonne caught.
Concerning the consequences of the failure of negotiations in terms of fishing with Morocco, the EU 15 should adopt the proposal presented on Thursday by Commissioner Franz Fischler aiming to extend, until the end of the year, the aids to Spanish fisherman and ship owners. It is necessary to adapt the present legislation on structural actions, and notably to derogate the FIFG rules (to exceed the 4% ceiling of FIFG funds allocated to the Member States). The proposal on the specific action programme for the restructuring of the Spanish and Portuguese fleet should not be ready before the beginning of July, Mr Fischler should recall. In the knowledge that this proposal should go before the EP and Council, this programme should not enter into force before 2002. The talks will continue in the services of the Commission on the sidelines of the budgetary manoeuvre that exists according to the various sections of the budget. The most probable option would consist of finding fresh money by increasing the ceiling of Section 2 of the structural actions thanks to a budgetary mechanism ("flexibility instrument").
The other points on the agenda are as follows:
Fleet reduction policy: Commissioner Franz Fischler will make a presentation of his proposal aiming to extend until 2002 the multiannual guidance programmes (POP) IV (see other story). This presentation could be followed with a first debate with, possibly, strong reactions from the French and Dutch delegations.
Resource conservation: Mr Fischler will present his Communication on the multiannual safeguard plans in favour of cod and hake (see EUROPE of 14 June, p.13).
Environmental dimension: The Council should adopt conclusions on the action plans in favour of biological diversity.