Brussels, 26 June 2023
Fisheries
Common Fisheries Policy and fishing opportunities for 2024
On the basis of the communication published by the Commission, ministers discussed the state of play of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and their priorities for fishing opportunities for 2024.
After the Commission took the floor to outline the main aspects of its communication and its approach to formulating proposals on fishing opportunities for 2024, the ministers exchanged views on the progress made in implementing the CFP and on their priorities for this year’s exercise.
The ministers’ discussion represented the first step in the annual process of setting the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the following year.
The Commission has launched a public consultation on fishing opportunities which will be open until August.
- Management of the EU’s fish stocks (background information)
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2024
Fisheries policy package
Presidency conclusions on the fisheries policy package
The presidency of the Council has issued conclusions on the Commission’s fisheries policy package, striving for a sustainable, resilient and competitive fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The text of the conclusions was supported or not objected to by 26 delegations.
The text recognises the important achievements under the Common Fisheries Policy that reconcile environmental goals with economic activity and social aspects, while acknowledging the complexity of the sector, as well as the challenges due to the current geopolitical context.
The presidency conclusions highlight the importance of the fisheries sector in the goal of reaching climate neutrality in the EU by 2050, emphasising the role of fisheries in:
- safeguarding biodiversity
- conserving and restoring marine ecosystems
- contributing to food security and a viable fishing sector within the EU
The conclusions emphasise that generational renewal is essential to ensuring the viability of the fisheries sector as a whole, as well as the ability of coastal communities to ensure food security.
The presidency conclusions welcome the Commission’s intention to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of current EU legislation on the landing obligation. The text calls for the Commission to publish a comprehensive impact assessment of its proposed action plan titled ‘Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries’ and emphasises that a general ban on mobile bottom-contacting gears in Marine Protected Areas is not in line with best available scientific advice.
Agriculture
Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products
The Swedish presidency presented a progress report on the proposal for a regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products (SUR). The progress report made way for an exchange of views between ministers.
This proposal is one of the main initiatives of the Commission’s Farm-to-Fork Strategy, aiming to reduce the use and risk of plant protection products by 50% in the Union by 2030.
Pending a study to be published by the Commission, complementing the existing impact assessment of the proposal, the Council focused its discussion on the progress report and the compromise text presented by the Swedish presidency.
Among the topics discussed under this point, ministers turned their attention to the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the responsibilities of “professional users” of plant protection products, the interaction between the crop-specific guidelines and rules, the way those rules are supposed to be applied, and how they are linked to the CAP funding.
Other business
During the meeting, under other business, ministers received information from the Swedish presidency on the One Health approach to address cross-border health threats, and on the first stocktaking meeting (Rome, 24-26 July) convened as a follow-up to the Food Systems Summit (2021).
The ministers also received information from the Romanian delegation on large carnivores, from the Bulgarian delegation on essential oil crops, and from the German delegation on the topic of fur farming.
The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative “A” items.
Notably, the Council adopted its position at first reading on a regulation establishing a multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with the goal of maintaining sustainable levels of bluefin tuna, as well as the related statement of the Council’s reasons. The new rules now need to be adopted by the European Parliament before they can be signed and published in the EU official journal.
Additionally, the Council adopted a decision on the signing and provisional application of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Madagascar (2023-2027) and the related implementing protocol. The ministers also agreed in principle on the decision on the conclusion of the agreement and protocol, and decided to forward it, together with the text of the protocol itself, to the European Parliament for its consent. The regulation on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the protocol was also adopted.
- Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its implementing protocol (2023-2027)
- Council Decision on the conclusion of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its implementing protocol (2023-2027)
- Council Regulation on the allocation of the fishing opportunities under the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar (2023-2027)
Agenda highlights – 27 June
Trade-related agricultural issues
Based on information from the Commission, ministers will hold an exchange of views on agricultural issues relating to trade.
Other business
Current legislative proposals
The presidency will update ministers on the state of play of the legislative proposals on geographical indications (GIs), the farm sustainability data network (FSDN) and labelling rules for organic pet food.
Informal lunch debate
Over lunch on Tuesday, ministers will discuss the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027.
Preparatory documents
- Provisional agenda
- List of A items, legislative deliberations
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional list of A items
- Background brief
Press releases
23 June 2023, 15:00
20 June 2023, 12:45
Source – EU Council