Brussels, 20/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - Agriculture and fisheries ministers meet in Luxembourg on Monday 23 and Thursday 24 June to discuss the common agricultural policy (CAP) “health check” and try to reach political agreement on the draft regulation on the marketing of plant health products (the pesticides regulation). In fisheries, the Council will discuss several texts, including the one combating illegal fishing.
The Council will begin at 2.00pm on Monday 23 June with a debate, under the chairmanship of Slovenian Istok Jarc, on agricultural issues, before moving on to public deliberation of plant health products. Fisheries matters will be debated the next day.
Health check. The Council will hold a policy debate on two points in the proposals on the CAP health check. Decoupling of aid (decoupled single payment is aid which is no longer linked to the type or even the existence of agricultural production): the Commission proposes to make full decoupling of aid the norm, except in the animal production sector. Discussions in the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), particularly on Monday 16 June, have shown that some countries support the Commission's approach on decoupling (United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden and, subject to certain conditions, Germany). Several others, however, are calling for some coupled aid to be retained, like France (for depressed or sensitive areas), Spain (sheep and goats, tobacco), Italy (tobacco, seeds, rice), Greece (tobacco), Portugal (tobacco), Finland (potato starch) and even the Netherlands (potato starch, linen and hemp). Measures under revised Article 69 of regulation 1782/2003 on aid schemes: the Commission proposes to extend the scope of this Article to allow countries to give support, subject to certain conditions, to the dairy, rice and beef, sheep and goat meat sectors. Some ministers (including the Spanish, French, Finnish, Romanian and Austrian ministers) are expected to call for still further flexibility to be able to support sectors which need aid. The United Kingdom, fearful of market distortion, is not very keen to see the Commission extend the scope of this Article. Sweden is on the same wavelength as the UK.
Pesticides regulation. Political agreement within the Council on the draft regulation on the marketing of plant protection products is within reach, if the last remaining problem - the legal basis of the text - can be overcome. The Commission suggests Articles 37 (agriculture) and 152 (public health), while the Council legal service proposes Article 95 (internal market). If political agreement is reached, the Council should be able to adopt its common position on the text in the autumn, so that it can be sent to the European Parliament for the second reading. The compromise provides for the following general rule on mutual recognition of product authorisation: authorisation of pesticides granted in one member state must also be granted in the other member states with comparable environmental and climatic conditions. The EU is divided into three authorisation zones (North, Centre and South). Only Hungary still has reservations over the principle of division into three zones. With regard to data protection, Article 56 sets a 10-year time limit for protection of the data contained in test reports submitted to EU countries as part of the authorisation process. This period will be extended by two and a half years for tests carried out with a view to renewing an authorisation. France and Italy were opposed to a five-year additional period, and were successful, then, in having it reduced to two and a half years. The text bans all substances that are carcinogenic, claimed to be endocrine disruptors or toxic to reproduction. There may be exemptions (lasting no more than five years), but these will be subject to very strict conditions, for example, if there is no alternative available. Still, though, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Romania feel that the text is too restrictive. They want to use risk analyses not danger analyses.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The Council is expected to reach political agreement on a proposal for a regulation establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The main points of the text have been agreed (drawing up an EU black list of non-complying vessels and a certification system for imports into the EU of fisheries products from third countries). The only point that remains to be settled is how to harmonise administrative sanctions in the event of serious infringements (fines of X times the value of the illegal catch).
Licences to fish outside Community waters. The Council is likely to reach political agreement on a proposal for a regulation to harmonise procedures and international obligations for authorising the fishing activities of EU vessels outside Community waters (in particular under bilateral agreements with third countries).
Vulnerable high seas marine ecosystems. The Council will seek to reach a political agreement on a proposal for a regulation to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from the adverse effects of bottom fishing gear. There are two issues outstanding: a ban on trawling below a certain depth (the Commission proposed a depth limit of 1,000 metres, the compromise says 1,500 metres) and the presence of observers on board vessels.
Mauritania. The Council will discuss the proposal which amends the fisheries protocol between the EU and Mauritania.
Cod in the Celtic Sea. France, backed by the United Kingdom and Ireland will call for the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) for cod in the Celtic Sea to be increased. The Commission, however, does not appear to be prepared to accede to this request.
Bluefin tuna. On 13 June, the Commission decided to close the bluefin tuna fishery to tuna seiners. This ban has been in place for French, Italian, Greek, Cypriot and Maltese vessels since 16 June, and will come into effect for Spanish vessels on 23 June. France wants to challenge this emergency measure taken by the Council. Under Article 7 paragraph 5 of regulation 2371/2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fish stocks, the Council, acting by qualified majority, may take a different decision within one month of the date of receipt of the referral. At the meeting of the Committee of member states' Permanent Representatives to the EU (COREPER) on Wednesday 18 June, France was supported by Italy. Other countries may, however, give France their backing at the Council.
Fishing fuel. The Council will be informed by the Slovenian Presidency about on-going discussions on ways to help fishermen who are experiencing great difficulty because of the high price of fuel. On Tuesday 17 June, the Commission made an announcement on emergency measures (see EUROPE 9685). (L.C./transl.rt)