It appears a heated discussion between the European Parliament and the European Commission on co-decision procedures may result in the Commission withdrawing the proposed management plans for horse mackerel and anchovy.
In recent discussions between the European Commission and the European Parliament, the proposed long-term management plans for anchovy and horse mackerel seems to have turned into a battle-ground. The debate is focused on whether long-term management plans constitute a decision on fishing opportunities (usually set in Total Allowable Catches (TACs), quotas or effort limitations) – an area that is exempt from the new co-decision procedure under the Lisbon Treaty – or whether they should be handled as other legislation, in which case the Fisheries Council will have to await a European Parliament opinion.
