Brussels, 09/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Austrian Presidency has set itself the following objectives on fisheries: a political agreement in April on the European Fisheries Fund for the period 2007-2013, a debate on rebuilding cod stocks in the Baltic and plaice and sole stocks in the North Sea and an agreement in June on protection measures for eels. At the end of April, the Council will also try once again to reach agreement on controversial Mediterranean resources management measures (see EUROPE 9031).
According to the Austrian Presidency's provisional calendar, “fisheries” dossiers will dominate the April and June meetings of the Agriculture-Fisheries Council.
25 April: - political agreement on European Fisheries Fund (after the opinion of the European Parliament adopted in July 2005 (see EUROPE 8997) and the failure of negotiations at the Council on 21 June last because of differences of opinion between Member States on aid to renew and modernise the fleet (see EUROPE 9874); - political agreement on financial measures for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) complementing the European Fisheries Fund); political agreement on technical measures in the Mediterranean; - exchange of views on the Commission communication, expected at the end of January/start of February, on restructuring measures for the fisheries sector affected notably by the high cost of fuel; - political debate on recovery plans for Eastern Baltic cod and on management plan for sole and plaice stocks in the North Sea.
19-20 June: - political agreement on measures for the management of eels (see EUROPE 9043) and exchange of views on eco-labelling schemes for fisheries products (see EUROPE 8979). EU Member States are due to adopt the measures of a new fishing agreement with Morocco (see EUROPE 9099).