As per the press communiqué the Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Luxembourg on Monday 19 April, under the Presidency of Mrs Elena Espinosa, Spanish Minister of the Rural, Marine and Natural Environment. EU Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki will represent the Commission at the meeting.
The main agenda of the meeting is to discuss the upcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Public Consultation gives Ministers Food for ThoughtCommissioner Maria Damanaki will present a summary of the contributions and the issues raised during the Commission’s public consultation on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, which ran between April and December 2009.
The press release also states that the summary paper will give ministers an opportunity to reflect and exchange views on the reform. Commissioner Maria Damanaki has been keen to see the results of the consultation and take stock of the different options that have emerged at this stage.
Damanaki is said to discuss with ministers and will be taking a close interest in all opportunities for dialogue with stakeholders and Member States in the coming months and will further refine her stance accordingly. It is also mentioned that there is widespread agreement on certain important issues, such as need to strengthen the ecological sustainability approach – the long-term planning and the maximum sustainable yield targets – and the regional approach to policy-making and industry responsibility.
It is expected that in June the EU ministers will discuss the way forward for the future policy. The Commission will then carry out an Impact Assessment, after which it will be able to start drafting the legislative proposals introducing the reform.
