Technical regulations for fisheries
The Council could not reach an agreement on the compromise proposal on fisheries regulations presented by the Presidency. The proposal meant stricter requirements for technical measures for fisheries that not everyone could accept. A number of Member States were of the view that further analysis was required. Spain, which is the next country to hold the Presidency after Sweden, will now take over the issue. A decision on interim measures was adopted instead, meaning that the regulations in force in 2009 will continue to apply in 2010 and half of 2011.
“I am disappointed that we did not manage to reach a unanimous decision. It would have been an important step towards sustainable fisheries and it would also have simplified the regulatory framework. I am expecting the Spanish Presidency to continue the work on this important issue”, says Council President, Minister for Agriculture Eskil Erlandsson.
Exchange of views ahead of fisheries negotiations with Norway
The ministers had an exchange of views ahead of the fisheries negotiations between the EU and Norway on 30 November–4 December in Brussels. The negotiations are on fishing quotas and other fishing rules for the coming year with regard to the shared stocks in the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat.
Fishing opportunities in the Black Sea
The ministers reached an agreement on fishing opportunities and certain technical conditions for fishing of turbot and sprat in the Black Sea in 2010.
State aid application from Poland
The Council approved a state aid application from Poland. The aid concerns the purchase of agricultural land in order to help small farmers.
The situation on the milk market
The ministers adopted two changes to the current rules on the organisation of the agricultural markets and on special provisions for certain agricultural products. The aim is to further stabilise the situation for Europe’s dairy farmers. The decision was adopted as an A-item (a formal decision with no discussion). The decision today forms a legal framework for the payment of the EUR 300 million that has been allocated as a temporary extra measure for the milk sector in 2010, approved by the ECOFIN Council on 18 November.
Proposal on genetically modified maize
There was no unanimity in the Council on the proposal on genetically modified maize. The proposal concerns the use of the maize in food products, animal feed and for technical uses. This means that the proposal goes back to the Commission which will now have to adopt a decision on its own proposal.
Working lunch for ministers on future fisheries policies
At the lunch, the ministers discussed future fisheries policy. The discussion was partly based on the Commission’s Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, partly on what effect the Lisbon Treaty will have on decision making in the field of fisheries.
